So, I'm just taking some pictures and video. I'm sorry? Why why are you being so aggressive, sir? There's no need for that. Yeah, I just want I want Islanders and tourists to be able to know that they have a First Amendment right to record in public. >> the United States. >> Right. >> do follow the First Amendment, the Second A >> I hope so. Just for holding a camera in public, this man was immediately treated like a criminal. But, the more he pushed back using the law, the more the signs of police and government officials abusing their authority began to surface. My credential is the First Amendment of the United States Constitution. We have freedom of press in our country. No, but they The reason why they wouldn't let me in the building is because I was recording, and that's unconstitutional, sir. Right. And I was recording. Right. There was no crime, no clear accusation, yet a single camera was enough to push several officers beyond the limits of the law, and potentially expose them to legal consequences of their own. The man was filming in a public area, but with nothing more than a small camera in his hand, he never expected the aggressive reaction he was about to get from security guards outside the tax office. The lobby here. It's a tax jungle. That's interesting. And even here in the US Virgin Islands, we are immediately greeted with our friendly reminder that the government is always recording us, even though it always seems to be an issue when we the people record our government. I'm sorry, you said something? Who are you? You're security? I'm sorry? Oh, my name is Sean. What's your name? Rollins? Yeah, I'm just taking some pictures and video. I appreciate it. Thanks. It's some processing windows, 1 2 3. I can't hear you. >> You're not supposed to be videoing. >> What did you say? >> You're not supposed to be videoing. >> He's saying you're not supposed to be videoing all of this stuff in here. >> I can't video pictures and and >> That's what he's saying. This is the security guard and I'm explaining to you what he's saying. >> Oh, okay. Do you Do you know why that Why Why can I take video here? >> You're not supposed to be videoing. >> Well, you're talking to me. I wasn't video recording you until you started talking to me, right? >> to talk to me and take a video. >> So, are you done talking to me? >> You have to leave. Otherwise, you're going to >> Why would I need to leave? I'm not causing a disturbance or anything like that. >> Sir, you have to leave. >> Why? >> You have to leave. Just leave. >> No, I'm not done yet, sir. I'm not done. >> Leave the place. >> No, sir. I'm not done yet. I don't want to argue with you. I really don't. I'm not trying to I'm >> to argue with me. You're trying to take it to that level. >> I don't want to take it to that level, sir. I don't. >> Let's not take it to that level. >> That's great. Okay. >> The people behind you are videoing. >> Look. >> They're videoing. >> Look. I'm talking >> He said you're not supposed to be >> I'm going to take your cell phone now. >> What are you What are you saying? >> I'm going to take your hands now for your video. I don't want to be on the video. >> You don't want to be on the video. Okay. Then I'll walk I'll walk away from you. That's not a problem. >> Sir, I don't Watch. Watch. You have to leave. You have to leave. >> Sir, I'm I'm an independent journalist. I'm just taking some pictures and video of the lobby here. That's it. >> Sir, I'm just taking some pictures and video. I'm sorry. >> Look at that. >> Why Why are you being so aggressive, sir? There's no >> When security staff could no longer come up with a legal reason to remove the man, supervisors suddenly began stepping in. A series of unreasonable questions followed, slowly shifting the encounter into an even more controversial confrontation. >> Sir, are you a supervisor here? >> Yes. >> Hi. My name is Shawn. Um I'm an independent journalist. The security officer is um becoming quite upset with me. I'm I'm just taking some pictures and video, some b-roll footage, and some applications here. Um I'm working on a story. >> Some sort of ID? >> Um I don't hand over ID unless I've been suspected of committing a crime. It's just my policy. But if you want, you can call law enforcement and they can clarify. Yeah, you can call law enforcement. Sure, no problem. I'm sorry. Okay. So, what did you What did you say? >> Why are you guys coming out videoing people? You're videoing people coming in and out. >> No, I'm just going over these papers and I'll be I'll be leaving. >> Yeah, but you got your camera and people when you come out with your paper. >> But it's But listen, they were in public, so there's no You have cameras there right there. You see that camera? There's camera watching everybody coming in and out of here. This is a government building, right? It's a public Right, it's a public building, right? So, that That's why you have cameras here, too. I don't say why you're recording me. >> me why you have to protect interest of the You're doing wrong, but you >> I My camera is My My camera is meant for my journalistic activity. I don't know how else to explain that to you. I really don't. I'm just a threat to you. I'm not a threat to anybody. There's no reason for people to be scared. Why? Well, why? Yeah, why? You just don't like it, that's all. >> in your business. >> Okay. Like I said, I didn't when I came in here, I didn't record you. You came up on recorded when you started talking to me. That's all that Okay. And I I told you what I'm doing. That's it. If If there's an issue, you could call law enforcement. They can come and they can explain it to you. >> So, you're you're you're finished? >> I'll be finished in a minute, yeah. Okay. Thanks. What seemed like a situation that was already over after a brief conversation with security suddenly took a dramatic turn when five police officers unexpectedly arrived, instantly making the atmosphere tense. What started as something completely ordinary was now being pushed far beyond reason. The real question is, what was actually behind this aggressive response? >> Hi, good afternoon. Do you mind if I get your name and badge number, ma'am? >> 12 12 11. >> Thank you. Do you mind if I get your name and badge number, ma'am? >> 13 13 52. >> Thank you, ma'am. Appreciate it. Thank you. Hi, ma'am. Do you mind if I get your name and badge number? Just so I know who's here. >> 13 72. >> Appreciate it. You know, I tried to talk to so many A lot of females working for the United States Virgin Islands Police Department. I tried to talk to so many supervisors to get clarification on everything, and obviously I couldn't do that. They wouldn't speak to Hi, ma'am. How are you? Okay. No, I'm just I'm recording law enforcement activity in public. That's what I Well, I feel like I feel like you can leave the public area if you needed to do private business with her. Can I Can I request a supervisor, please? I'd appreciate it. After a lengthy discussion between the officers and supervisors, the man finally got the chance to speak directly with police. And once again, the situation shifted. Because what he said made it increasingly difficult for the officers to deny that he was exercising a lawful right. >> Are you supervisor? >> No. >> Okay. >> I'm officer Branco. Please be advised you are being audio and video recorded. >> Okay. >> So, they would like to know what um business are you conducting today? >> So, I I wanted to go through all of the forms and everything here. Um again, I'm I'm an independent journalist. My name is Sean. Um I engage in First Amendment protected activities. >> So, are you writing like a blog or >> I'm a journalist. I'm a jour- I'm an independent journalist. I'm getting b-roll footage of this public area here. I'm not looking to get any private information or anything like that. Um I'm just looking to I'm reporting on the the tax system here in the US Virgin Islands. I'm from the mainland. Um and again, I go around to public buildings and government lobbies across the mainland and the US Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, and I record uh peacefully. Uh it's my First Amendment right. >> You can be on the sidewalk. >> Right. >> But, it's also how you you know, you conduct yourself. >> Right. And I think since you've gotten here, I think I've conducted myself professionally. >> being loud. I'm not discussing my business. >> Of course. And I And And I don't >> I'm discussing government business. >> Right. The only The only person, disrespectfully, the only person who has gotten loud and obnoxious is the security guard here. Everybody else have been professional. No one I asked to speak to a supervisor to see if maybe there was some sort of law or regulation specifically for this office. I couldn't find one online. But again, I'm not being loud. The same way I'm treating you is the same way my volume speaking now is the same way I've been speaking to everybody, including the security officer. I understand some people don't like cameras. Uh but it's my First Amendment right under the United States Constitution, and I exercise that right peacefully. Yeah. Peacefully. >> Um so, you said you're only here to get >> Right. I'm just here to get some some public documents. Right. And then yeah, right, exactly. And I I would have preferred to speak to a supervisor, but it doesn't seem like no supervisor wants to speak to me. I can't force them to. That's fine. Uh but again, I'm just getting some b-roll of the the office here, asking questions, and looking at some of those documents that they have for the public. That's it. >> After a series of heated arguments, the truth finally started coming out in a way that caught many people off guard. No arrests, no charges, but what the officers were ultimately forced to admit left many questioning how well law enforcement truly understands the laws they enforce. >> Everything here at the IRS is protected. This is an IRS office. It's just a substation because we're in the Virgin Islands. >> Right. >> So, everything here is protected. Everything is protected by the same laws the IRS follows on the mainland. They have to follow the same laws here. So, they don't have no public records or anything of the sort that they can share with you. >> Okay. >> However, she did say you can visit the website, which is irb.vi.gov, and they have publication what documents we use, filing processes, or any other information you may be looking for. >> Okay, perfect. Yeah. Right. Yeah, yeah, no problem. Okay, that's that's perfect. All right. Thank you. >> If you're not conducting any business within the office, they would like for you to leave. >> Right. Yeah, I'm not I'm not going to I already had left, so there's no reason for me to be here all day. I just I I wanted to make sure that there's there's no law prohibiting recording. May I I won't be >> You can record in the lobby, but anything beyond those doors you cannot. >> Right. That's what I was making sure of. Yeah, I just want I want Islanders and tourists to be able to know that they have a First Amendment right to record in public. >> the United States, so we do follow the First Amendment, the Second >> I hope so. I mean, some some law enforcement agencies you'd be I guess maybe not be surprised, but there's some law enforcement agencies in the United States like on the mainland that do not follow the First Amendment. So, my job is to educate them, educate the public, and to make sure that all law enforcement agencies are following the First Amendment. Okay. Great. Perfect. Yeah. Thank you. Yep, no problem. Yeah, sure, no problem. Yeah, no problem. I'll be back later to follow up. So, again, we >> When civil rights are treated like a threat, anyone can become a victim of abuse of power and a lack of understanding of the law. Sometimes all it takes is a small misunderstanding to ignite a confrontation. And when authority goes unchecked, every boundary can be pushed too far. A warning that shouldn't be ignored. Citizens may file a lawsuit against police under section 1983 if their rights are violated. Officers who violate those rights could face financial liability and may also be subject to discipline or termination. Next, the moment he raised his camera in a public area, the man was immediately stopped and treated like a suspect, then ordered to leave. But what made the situation even more tense was this. No one could actually explain what law he had broken. >> I'm an independent journalist. I'm just taking some photos and video. Why is that? >> Guys, you cannot do that. >> Is that a like a law or something or >> take photos in the in this office. >> This is a public office, right? This is a taxpayer fund. But it's a taxpayer funded office. I don't want to go into restricted areas or anything. I just want to take a look around the publicly accessible areas. But I can. I have a first amendment right to do so, sir. >> Cannot do that. >> I can though. And again, I'll be quick, but I I definitely can. I have a right to do it. >> Where is your credentials? >> Um I don't show credentials unless I've broken the law, sir. If I wanted to do something illegal, I wouldn't be telling you. I'd just do it. I said so. Right. If I If I had If I had I'm an independent journalist, right? I don't My credentials are the first amendment of the United States Constitution. We have freedom of press in our country. >> Please leave the office, sir. >> Yeah, I'm just taking some pictures illegally. If I had If I had nefarious purposes, I would I would not tell you and I would secretly record it, right? I'm I'm telling you I'm recording. >> What's the way of credentials? I can't believe >> But I do have a constitutional right. It's it's a constitutional right. It's the First Amendment right in the United States Constitution. First Amendment, freedom of press. >> Am I supposed to believe what you say? >> No, you need to believe the Constitution. Don't believe me, believe the Constitution of the United States of America. >> I can't believe what you say. You could tell me anything about the Constitution. You You could say anything that you want. >> Right. Well, I >> So, that means you have a constitutional right to say whatever you want and you want to please just taking pictures of what >> As As a public servant, you should be familiar with the United States Constitution and the First Amendment. >> Don't worry about me being a public servant or not. You just come in and say you want to take pictures. You're an independent journalist. >> But, you're >> Taking pictures for what reason? >> You're saying I told you for journalistic purposes, but I >> Why? >> I told you I'm working on a story, but >> What story are you working on? >> I can't devote the specifics of my story, but I'm working on a story because it's my story. It's not your story. >> Well, I asked you not to take pictures and then you can leave if you don't want to leave. >> Right. Well, >> So, should I have to call the authorities to verify >> You can >> if you have legally >> Call them maybe they maybe call them and maybe they're more familiar with the First Amendment of the United States Constitution. Like I said, you don't have to believe me, you have to believe the Constitution. >> After the baseless accusations and unreasonable demands completely fell apart, a single internal phone call instantly changed everything. The man was fully within his legal right to film in a public area. No apology, no explanation, leaving many wondering what exactly was going on with the way these officers were operating. >> What do you mean business? Okay. Okay. Okay. Okay. Bye. >> Everything okay, sir? >> We are all right. I just spoke to a a special agent. >> You spoke to a special agent? Okay. Perfect. I won't go into restricted areas, like I said before. Just taking a look in the publicly accessible areas. This is their little office here. So, apparently a special agent with the Department of Justice Office of the Attorney General here is well informed on our constitutional rights. So, that's a good thing. So, this isn't like the Department of Justice like the United States US Department of Justice. This is the Attorney General for the US Virgin Islands. I said Virginia earlier. US Virgin Islands. 1996 to 1990 office here. So, the Attorney General is appointed by the governor and I believe confirmed by the legislature. Thank you, sir. Is that's it? It was right that quick. Have a great day. Thank you. Appreciate that. Authorized personnel only down here. Government of the United States Virgin Islands Division of Personnel. See what they do here. Hi, ma'am. How are you? Hi, I just had a quick question. My name is Shawn. Um I What type of services do you offer here to the public? >> Depends on what. >> Government agency? >> If you're here, if you're looking to apply for a government job, you come here. And we also provide government insurance. >> Okay. So, if you were looking for like a government job, you would apply here whether that's the police department or any other government job. Like like you came here when you applied for this job the year? Interesting. Um and uh health insurance for the because they they get free health insurance. Cool. All right. Thank you for answering my questions. Appreciate it. Thank you. Have a great day. Can't give free health insurance to the people, but they can get free health insurance to the government to the public servants. >> Just when everyone thought the truth had become obvious after the right to film was acknowledged, the situation suddenly exploded again. A forceful order to leave the building was issued, pushing the confrontation to its peak. Did they truly not understand the law, or were they trying to use authority to override it? >> Excuse me. >> Yeah. >> A negative. >> A negative? >> You can call me um real quick. Okay. Um What are you recording in the building? >> Oh, I told the uh people of the Department of Justice I'm an independent journalist. I'm just taking some pictures and video cuz I'm working on a story. Hey. What's up, brother? >> Man, I watch your videos every day. >> Thank you, brother. Appreciate you, man. Appreciate you. Yes, sir. Appreciate it, bro. Uh Sean Paul Reyes, Long Island Audit. Everywhere. Everywhere, brother. Appreciate you. You you you you work for the government here? You're a public servant. Thanks for your service to our community, brother. Oh, you were the the that they spoke to the um the Department of Justice? Yeah, okay. Cool, brother. Very cool. Yeah, I was happy when he made the call and they were like he was like, "Oh, he can?" And then So, thank you for that, man. You saved me a headache. Thank you. Yeah, exactly. It's all about education, right? Thanks, brother. Appreciate you, bro. Take care. Thanks for your service to the community, man. So, I don't think there's really anything left on this first floor here, so that's so cool, man. I believe he's a special agent for the Department of uh special agent for the Department of Justice. No issues, right, brother? No issues, right? >> Yeah, issues um you have to leave. >> Why is that? >> You can't record in the building and you have to leave. >> Yes, she is. >> You have to leave. No >> Why why is that? Did Did you Did you not just Did you not just hear the other public servant that was telling me that I had a right to record here? >> I don't work for him. So do me a favor and please leave the building, sir. >> All right, we can call law enforcement then cuz I have every right to be in the building. I don't know why you got to make it difficult. I have a First Amendment right to record. Wow, we went from such a good public servant to >> That's a >> Faced with the man's sharp and confident arguments, the officers' increasingly awkward reactions began leaving many people stunned. Simple questions were repeatedly avoided and the entire handling of the situation started falling apart. Behind the uniforms, was this simply poor training or a form of authority being exercised beyond the limits of the law? >> Ma'am, hi. They They They called the They called you guys for me. If you want to get my side of it. They called you for me. Apparently they had a problem I spoke to a special agent and apparently he told me that I had no problem recording. But apparently there was a problem with me recording and exercising First Amendment right. So I was just curious you know, they called you. I have no idea. >> What do you think What kind of business do you have to come in >> Well, I already technically conducted my business but they they had told me that you can't record. So I just want to make I didn't call you. Let's be clear. I did I didn't I'm not wasting Well, yeah, technically I'm finished my business, yeah. For No, I didn't Again, I didn't call you. >> you but >> Right. >> finished with your business here, >> Right. >> you're waiting around for what? >> So you can educate No, so you can educate them on the First Amendment. No, but they The reason why they wouldn't let me in the building is because I was recording and that's unconstitutional, sir. >> what you You got in, right? >> Right. And I was recording. Right. Well, now I want to file a complaint so I need to go back in and get a complaint form. >> A complaint on on >> On security officers, yeah. So I need to go back in and file a complaint. >> Who you going to file it with? The security officers >> If No, with whoever their supervisor is, whoever's in charge of this building. >> through the Waco office which is in here, you said? >> Where is it? Havenside dock? That's where the security officer supervisors is? I'm not I'm I'm not from here, so Right. You you might have forgot to give me your badge number, officer. Thank you. I appreciate that. I appreciate that. No, no. Again, I didn't call you. I didn't call you. No, no, no. Again, but I just want to be asked if I needed to enter into a public building, I want to be able to do that. That's all. Great. Well, I can make a complaint. That's that's fine. Again, I'm not I'm not here to I'm not here to escalate it. No, that's it. And again, I didn't call you, but I appreciate your help. I appreciate it. I appreciate your help. Thank you so much. Take care, okay? There was no violation, no arrest. But when ignorance and abuse of power come from the very people enforcing the law, even a legal right can be turned into a dangerous confrontation. Well, yeah, now but now that they called law enforcement. Excuse me? No, I'm not interfering. I'll take a step back. I'm not interfering with anything. I have a I have a First Amendment right to record law enforcement in the course of their duty. Right. Right. Well, you could with all due respect, officer, you could conduct it inside where, you know, you're I have a First Amendment right to record. I don't understand why why do you not take the First Amendment seriously over here? It still applies in the U.S. Virgin Islands, just so you know. Right, because I that's what I do. I exercise my rights. This is the This is the United States territory. We the United States Constitution. you swore an oath to uphold the Constitution, correct? Can I get the name and badge number now? Yeah, you can help me with your name and badge number, that's all. I just have a simple question. >> One second. >> Your name is One Second? >> Yeah, I have I have it. Don't worry, I'll secure it for you. Not a problem, that's what I'm here for. >> I just wanted to know your name and badge number so I knew who was here. It It benefits me too, so I know who's here and it's just professional, that's it. That's all I'm asking, sir. Yeah, that's it. So, can I get that, please? What is it? Officer Liddy and your badge number? 1364, that's it. It's not that big of a deal, man. It's really not. It's not a big deal, I shouldn't ask? >> Cuz I'm not even engaging with you. >> Well, you're here on a call that involves me, sir. So, respectfully >> I don't even know who you are. I'm just here minding my business and doing my job. >> Right, and your job is to be professional with members of the public. >> Demand after demand to leave kept coming, and police finally arrived after security called them in. But instead of clearing up the situation, the officers came across cold and evasive. That's when the man began asserting his rights and hinted at a next move that could leave everyone involved facing serious consequences. With nothing more than a camera in a public place, an ordinary citizen can suddenly become the target of suspicion, pressure, and even actions that cross the line of the law. Hey everyone, what do you think about this situation? If you enjoyed the video, don't forget to like, subscribe, and support us with a donation. Thank you so much.