But what what crimes have I been suspected of committing? We got a call for service that you might be surveilling. Okay. Who knows? Uh they're just afraid that we're going to help some of their SeaOrg slaves escape. Did somebody come over and talk to you guys or what? Nope. No, security never approached us. I mean and we've been on the public easement the whole time. We haven't stepped onto their property. I A routine audit suddenly turns into a tense confrontation as police are accused of overstepping their authority. California Penal Code 148G. What that tells me is that an individual practicing photography in public including the filming of public officials in the commission of their duties What else? So here's the deal. Even though you guys are on a public easement, you're still walking on the roadway. So can I see your guys' driver's license, please? When a camera faces government authority, every word and action can become evidence. Everything begins to shift when seemingly harmless questions grow sharper. What starts as casual small talk quickly turns tense as police bring up reports and the filmers' past. But this used to be the main police station for the city of Santa Maria. Now their main police station is located on Betteravia Road. There you have it. City of Santa Maria City Ranger Service, Safety, and Law Enforcement. They forgot to mention uh harassment of homeless people. What's going on, man? Good. Awesome. What are you doing out here? Uh, just filming. Anything good yet? Uh. No? Hopefully one day you will, right? Maybe. Yeah. Hi. Hey, how are you? I'm doing great. How are you? Well. Yeah. You're out here and we got calls about you filming rangers going in and out of the 93rd Precinct. Actually, I haven't gotten any going in and out yet. That's kind of what I was waiting for. Waiting for what? Yeah. You well, you picked the wrong time to come here. They're not even here. But are they a 24-hour operation or they're not? We are. Oh, okay. Oh, all right. The conversation seemed like it would end with a few routine questions, but once suspicions of surveillance were raised, the atmosphere instantly shifted. From that moment on, everything began to escalate. Legal arguments erupted and a controversial action pushed the tension to an entirely new level. So, the city rangers, they they do all the the parks and They have access to the whole city. Really? Oh, okay. Now, we are out here to make sure that you are not doing any reconnaissance missions or trying to stalk them like your history has shown to the Mobile Beach Police Department officers. No, I'm just uh, you know. >> with your history and everything like that, we're going to make sure you don't have any weapons or anything on you. Pat you down, okay? Uh, no. I don't consent to searches. >> every right to do that. >> No, you don't. You don't have probable cause. >> I do. No. With your history, we do, Mr. We need a >> So, don't pull Go Do not pull away. You can You can keep filming, but you're going to put this camera down. No, I I want to document this. >> that's fine. We'll put it on the ground. We have every right to every right to search you. We're just going to pat you down for I don't consent to searches. >> That's fine. We have every right to search you for weapons. >> What probable cause do you have We don't need probable cause for an arrest, okay? You're about to get a under arrest for for 148. So, actually, we're going to pull this backpack off. I'm just going to pat you down to make sure you don't have any knives in those nice big cargo pockets. Okay. Did you have a knife in your pocket? Put this hand on top of your head. That's all we need to >> I like to request a supervisor. That's fine. Okay. There's some beer bottles and stuff in there. All right, do not reach in any of your pockets, okay? Okay. All right. There you go. Now, you can raise your hands. Okay. There you go. Okay. So, Well, Okay, the biggest part the biggest issue I have, I'm not on probation or parole. Yeah. I don't have a warrant for my arrest, and I did not consent to searches. What I'm doing right now is a constitutionally protected activity. I'm filming from public view, Yeah. which is legal. It's not against the law. >> It's not against the law, but when we contact someone, we get a call for service, stuff like that, what we have to do is we make sure by your clothing it's baggy. You're I mean, your waistband is tucked in, we can see that, but we don't know what's in your pockets. We don't know if you have knives on you, if you have a gun tucked in your cargo pocket. So, therefore, when we're out here talking to you, we have a legal right to at least pat you down for weapons. What legal right though? Legal right, officer safety, okay? But what What crimes have I been suspected of committing? We got a call As the back-and-forth exchange loses its initial calm, legal arguments begin to pour in. This disagreement pushes the situation into a new phase where the tension is no longer just in the words, but in the decisions that could change everything that follows. We got a call for service that you might be surveilling. Okay. Who knows? Uh but officer, are you familiar with California 148G? California Penal Code 148G. No, tell me what it means. That an individual practicing photography in public, including the filming of public officials in the commission of their duties, government buildings, you know, etc., etc. is not legal grounds to detain someone, nor is it probable cause to arrest them. Yeah. What I'm doing is per- I haven't committed any crimes. I haven't been suspected of committing any crimes. I did not consent to searches or or you know, and I was I'm being detained and I was searched. I have a problem with that. Okay, but supervisors are on their way, but just so you know, you have every right to do a pat search for What right? But what crime am I suspected of committing? We got a call for service that you might be surveilling. Surveilling rangers. But that doesn't mean you have to you have the right to detain me and go through my Well, yeah, but I'm not on probation or parole. You're not on probation or parole, but with your history and our knowledge of that, we don't know if you're going to do the same thing again. So, we have to make sure you're not carrying any weapons that could cause us So, anybody that that's been arrested or has a criminal history, you can stop them and detain them without Yeah, if they're on probation or parole, you can. We can get a We don't need probable cause to detain you. Okay. We don't need reasonable suspicion. Reasonable suspicion is your outfit right now. But that's not against the law. Are you going to let me finish? >> Okay. Your outfit right now is surveilling government buildings, which you have every right to do as a reporter or But you don't have the right to search me without my consent. >> Okay. When you're detained and we are speaking with you, we have every right to search you instant for our safety. Okay, for weapons, pat search only. We don't go inside your pockets. We don't go inside bags, we don't go inside of any of your clothing. We just do pat search outside of your clothing for weapons only. Okay? You have bulky items inside your side pocket and your cargo pants. I don't know what those could be. For all I know they could be a bomb. So I have to pat search and make sure you don't have guns, knives, anything like that. Okay? That could harm us or anyone else around. >> to do that because I I know you don't, but I know you don't. That's fine. But our field sergeant is on their way so you can speak with them if you like. I hopefully it's not Sergeant Lara. No? You don't like him? No, I mean he's pretty unprofessional. I had an encounter with him before and but he got corrected and everything was fine. Questions about constitutional rights and the limits of authority stretch the tension to the breaking point. And just when it seems everything is over, an unexpected twist emerges leading into the next moment where the conversation shifts to an entirely new level with the arrival of someone who could change the outcome. Look at the case law for the pat search for weapons he's carrying. >> I'm not. I've done this many times. So then you should know that we have a And this is the first time this has ever happened. I've I've filmed police stations, correctional facilities, military bases, post offices, you name it. And I have never been grabbed, searched against my consent. This is the first time this has ever happened. We went into your pockets and backpack and then it turns into a search. Okay. >> How you doing, sir? Park checker. Nice to meet you. All right. You know you have a camera on you, right? Yeah, I do. Okay. Okay. Uh here's the issue that I have. I was taking pictures of the of the station. All right. You know, and your officers here uh one of which this one right here addressed me by name, and he said because of my past criminal history that they had the right to detain me, and and they he grabbed me and did a uh you know, he said it wasn't a search, but he did a pat down. You know, I did not consent to that. I'm not on probation or parole. I don't have an active warrant for my arrest. And um even though he told me I was no longer detained at this point, I requested to speak to the supervisor because I you know, I I did not appreciate that. After several tense moments of back and forth, the situation seems to slow down. Yet an uneasy feeling still hangs over the conversation. Then, just moments later, a new figure arrives, opening the next chapter with more direct exchanges and decisions that could change the course of the entire story. Okay. >> Give me a chance. Okay. Can I talk? Mhm. Officer's job to make sure our community is safe. Somebody's walking around dressed in army gear with a backpack and stuff. That's not a crime, though. He he he he did what he was legally have the right to do. You're no longer detained. You're free to leave. Go ahead and go. Well, I understand that, but the issue is he grabbed me. He told me I was about to be arrested. And both of them he tried to take my camera. And then he he did a pat down. You know, like I said, I'm not on probation. I'm not on parole. I did not agree to that. Uh I tried to explain California 148G to him, which specifically states in there that an individual practicing photography out in the open, including the filming of public officials, government buildings, is not a legal is not a legal reason to detain the person, nor is it probable cause to arrest them. And then we, you know, we went back and forth with that, and that at that point I I requested a supervisor. So. >> You're free to go. I'm here. I understand that, but the whole problem is was they grabbed me and they they patted me down and they detained me when they didn't I don't feel they [music] have a lawful reason to do that. >> some type of formal complaint? Uh yes, sir, I would. Okay. There is a process for that, and the best way to do that, we don't carry complaint forms on us. Okay, I understand. I I didn't figure you did. My recommendation is to go to the police department. Um probably better to do it during business hours. And uh since this isn't something that's incredibly pressing for the moment, go to the police department tomorrow uh during business hours and ask for a formal complaint form, fill it out, and there is a legal complaint process. >> So, as you know, the penal code also cites that, right? Do you know that? The illegal complaint? >> Yeah, there's a legal complaint process outlined in the penal code section. Okay. Do you know what that section is? I I I'll be honest with you, I don't. Okay. I I I don't recall what it is, either. Um you were pretty quick with the other one. I figured maybe you knew a couple more. Well, just being what I do, you know, I I'm well aware of my rights and I I know these officers right here didn't [music] have a right to grab me, detain me, and pat me down. I'm not on probation or parole. >> recommendation is to do that tomorrow. That's the best um way to handle what seems to be a complaint from this type of complaint. As the officers leave and the scene slowly returns to calm, a bigger question remains unanswered. Was this simply a misunderstanding of procedure or the beginning of a legal battle far from over? Up next, as the audit team moves closer to the gate, unusual signs begin to emerge. The atmosphere grows heavier, marking the moment that sets the stage for the unpredictable events ahead. As you can see, I am on the public easement on the side of Highway 79. This is public access. I was informed earlier that uh the public easement is 50 ft in either direction from the center of the road. So, as you can see, I am well within the 50 ft. See one of the no trespassing signs. As you can tell, I'm not even close to it. Right now, we're coming up on an interesting gate. Got the camera right there. This uh security booth right here is supposedly a bomb shelter of some sort. Supposedly, it's uh bomb-proof. It can withstand an explosion. There goes security. Earlier, we saw a couple security officers in the booth. The uh blinds were open and we could see in as we drove past, but now they seem to have uh disappeared. That or there is somebody in there and they don't want us to see them. As you can't see in now, and there's uh the security booth again. What first seemed like routine filming slowly shifts as attention from inside becomes more noticeable. Then, just minutes later, everything takes an unexpected turn when law enforcement arrives, opening a tense exchange filled with hard-to-avoid questions. Hi. Nobody's fighting? We're offering these uh these slaves their freedom. They want to come with us. We're going to take them home with us. So, you guys are the guys filming? Yeah, we're filming. All right. Is your camera on? It's on. What's going on, guys? Good. How are you doing, sir? >> you doing? I got called that people were fighting. Nobody's fighting. >> Nobody's fighting. You know Scientology See how they are? They're just afraid that we're going to help some of their uh Sea Org slaves escape. Did somebody come over and talk to you guys or what? >> Nope. No, security never approached us. I mean, and we've been on the public easement the whole time. We haven't stepped onto their property. I What are you guys doing out here? We're out here filming or you know, filming and then we're giving people an opportunity. I don't know if you've ever heard of the escapes from uh people uh called blowing the org where they jump the fence and run away. No. This is new to me. I learn something every day. Go to uh What are some of the websites like Go to Uh angrygayblog.com. So, here's the thing. Even though you guys are on a public easement, you're still walking on the roadway. So, can I see you guys' driver's licenses? I would prefer not to identify >> Yeah, me too, sir. Just >> I'm on I'm on the public easement. >> Well, I know. When I saw you though, you were in the road. Well, we were crossing the driveway, sir. Okay. We're crossing the driveway. Just for your safety and everything like that, you guys can't be in the roadway. I don't know what you You are doing out not for and stuff like that. I mean, obviously you told me. But I mean Well, we will we will stay on the curb and make our way out of here. Cuz if you guys are getting called in it's fighting. That that's that's that's just totally made up. I mean, I know you weren't here officer, but I mean that was That's what I'm saying. I I received a call a 415 which is disturbing the peace. And that's actually saying that you guys were fighting. The encounter with law enforcement begins calmly, but each question and probing glance slowly raises the tension. As the conversation shifts toward filming rights and personal identification, it feels like the story is entering an entirely new chapter. Sylmar? Yeah. There you go. We got it on your hat. Is that where you from too? All right. Why are you smiling? Huh? Why are you smiling? I mean, this is my first time out here. So, I'm just it's it's the whole the whole experience, you know. And I will probably be on YouTube or something. Probably will be on YouTube. >> be on YouTube. Come on, man. But you've been respectful. I mean, we're we're not you know. You you you you haven't disrespected us. You haven't You know, a lot of times especially with Scientology they they tend to uh uh get very cozy with law enforcement in the area. How? And it tends to people that they come to film them or people that protest them or people that which they call suppressive people, people that are against Scientology Scientology's conduct. Tend not to have a positive reaction with police. So, this is good. Okay. They're they're very hostile towards critics of the church. I don't know how familiar you are with their organization. So I don't know if you watch Leah Remini show. She had a series on A&E recently. >> you know, I mean my uniform doesn't have any >> I understand. Yeah. I don't have any leaves or whatever. Um My question to you guys is if someone disagreed with your lifestyle would you want them out in front of your house filming? Well, first this isn't their house. This is a business. Well, even if you know what I mean. You see where Do you see where I'm coming from? No, I I I understand. >> or whatever. So, I guess just out of respect to being human beings, I would say, I mean, whether there's rules and no rules, you know, just think about it if you were in their shoes. I'm not saying you want to be behind the gates or whatever, but if you were at your, you know, place of work or place of sleep or And and I will tell you that if you go to I believe it's scientologyexposed.org, you would see that Scientology does go to people's houses and they go and they do go to people's jobs and and and harass them at home and harass them at their That's actually true. I actually work with a and and and harass them at their place of business. Now, this is their business. This is Scientology's business. Uh this is where they, you know, they come for their auditing and classes and stuff. So, Just when the conversation seems to calm down, opposing viewpoints resurface, making the atmosphere increasingly unpredictable. And right as everyone thinks the audit is about to end, an unexpected development unfolds, leading into the next moment with the arrival of additional officers. We're just trying to get out of here. We're not, you know, Yeah, there they are. The Scientologists they called the the sheriffs and you for a public dis- for a public fighting. They were contacted Okay. We just want to I was I was just going to ask them about what they were what they were the report what they were claiming that that's why I mean we're not trying bother him or Yeah, it came out that two individuals were fighting in the middle of the road. One was wearing a tactical Oh, so they actually described us. Oh, wow. Uh, did you get the the reporting person's name that uh said that we were fighting? No, I didn't. I just saw second hand. Because that's a that's a false police report, right? If we weren't fighting. If I can prove on the video. Did they call the non-emergency or did they call 911? I don't know. Like I said, this is all second hand info. We were contacted by Riverside Sheriff. The call Oh, okay. I understand that their agency department. >> agency is the one that got the call. Sounds like it. Okay. >> Okay. Okay. All right. Thank you, sir. Appreciate it. I want to get some information. Excuse me, Deputy. Uh, they don't want to talk to us. Can I Can I Can I get the nature of the call that went out? I'm sorry? The nature of the call that was uh made? No, thank you. So, you don't want to tell me what the >> welcome to call the Sheriff's station and ask him if you want. Okay. Was it a 911 call or a non-emergency call? It doesn't come out like that. They don't tell us if it's 911 or not. They just give us the call. Okay. Oh. Which Which department Which station are you out of? I'm at the Hemet station. Oh, Hemet Okay. So, the call went through the Hemet station? Is that the Hero 5? Yeah, it is, actually. Yeah. Dig it, man. My dear old mom got it for me for Christmas. Does that have the screen on the back of it, too? Yeah, yeah. It does. I wanted to get one so bad. They're always They're constantly upgrading them, you know, so I can never Every time I get one, it's up Now the 6 is out. Now the 7's out. It's like It's hard to keep up with the technology. I No one was detained, but questions about the source of the report and what truly happened behind the gates remain unanswered, leaving a a yet thought-provoking ending to the entire audit. Citizens may file a Section 1983 lawsuit when their rights are violated. Officers found in violation could face financial liability, disciplinary action, or even termination. A civilized society is [music] not built on suspicion or abuse of power, but on respect for the rule of law, compassion, and a spirit [music] of dialogue to prevent unnecessary conflicts. 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.