Can you ask your officer? I don't mind you filming, but can you all get on the curb? >> No, this is public easement. We're allowed to be here. >> Okay, so what's What are you filming for? >> That's not important. >> Yeah, you still on the state property. >> Let me show you something. You see that public utility right there? This is public easement. Call your supervisor if you don't understand. >> When law enforcement officers come face to face with a citizen who knows their rights, the line between doing their job and abusing their power can be exposed in just a matter of minutes. >> Yeah. Aggravated trespass just by being in there. So, what is aggravated trespass? >> Could you please just come beyond the area? >> So, so, so what is aggravated trespass, Inspector? >> Thank you very much. >> So, what is aggravated trespass? >> 30 seconds. 30 seconds. >> That's 30. >> What started as a routine visit to the police station quickly turned into a tense confrontation. Because when an officer makes a demand without being able to explain the legal authority behind it, the situation can expose far more than just a simple misunderstanding. The moment a camera appeared outside the fence, two men had no idea they were about to become the center of a tense confrontation. So, what made the employees inside react so aggressively? >> Oh, this guy's funny. Yeah, he is. Look at this guy. Do you mind if I take a picture of you being on this side, gentlemen, and photos? Hey, buddy. 2314 Y'all have a car coming this way? See you again, buddy. 2314 All right. Yeah, well, that is the biggest first time. All right, if we get them over there, we're good. Thank you. >> Yes, sir. >> Trespassing. >> It's trespassing. >> Trespassing. >> Trespassing. >> Okay, now I understand. Yeah, these guys are jokers. All right, John. Yeah, I want to hear what they're saying. >> When the warnings no longer worked, >> [music] >> police were finally called to the scene. But within minutes, a tense battle over authority and identity pushed the situation far beyond what anyone expected. >> No, man. How you doing, buddy? >> I'm good. >> I'm good. >> I was going to go. >> Good. >> All right, let's uh Come outside. I don't mind y'all filming, but can y'all get off the property? >> No, this is public easement. We're allowed to be here. >> Okay, so what's What are you filming for? >> That's not important. >> All right, you don't mind if I get your identification? >> No, I don't mind. >> Can I get your some ID on you for? >> No, I don't mind as in you're not getting it. >> You got some ID, you said? You don't? What's your name? What's your name, sir? >> I'm not sure if you didn't hear me say you're not getting it or if you're just trying to play coy. >> So, right now it's not public easement. You're still on the state property. >> Let me show you something. You see that public utility right here? This is public easement. Call your supervisor if you don't understand. Along a public road, there's what's called a public easement so the public can walk down the road without having to walk in the road and get hit by traffic. If you don't understand, call your supervisor. >> So, is there a reason why you're filming? >> I'm not answering any more questions. Thank you. >> When pressure and repeated questioning failed [music] to make the man back down, the officer decided to switch tactics. But, the deeper the exchange [music] went, the thinner the line between law enforcement and abuse of power seemed to become. >> Your name? >> No. >> You don't have a name? >> How about you, my friend? You suspect me of a crime? >> Well, right now we just we got called out here because you are causing a disturbance. >> Well, people call you all the time. It doesn't mean it's anything illegal. >> Yeah, but I still got to find out who you are. >> No, it's not in the state It's Georgia state statute. You don't. There's nothing in Georgia state statute that says if you're out on a call you have to give the uh person's information or that they're required to give you their information. Thank you. Thank you. Just a little bit for COVID citizen safety. Listen, you guys know how property works, right? You own a house. There's a sidewalk right in front of your house. There's that green piece of grass next to the road, correct? City owns it. You have to take care of it. It's called the public easement just like the public sidewalk. When there's not a public sidewalk next to a public road, the public easement comes a certain amount of feet out from center line, meaning that all citizens have a right of way to walk down the road without getting hit by a car. It's It's common sense. I mean, it can't be more logical. >> Once the officers realized the man knew the law better than they expected, [music] their attitude suddenly began to shift and within minutes the confrontation turned from them questioning him to them being judged. >> Anything else? >> What about with these two guys? Can I get back to work or are they just on the taxpayers' dime hanging out? I think they know where to find you, gentlemen, if they need you. You can get back to work. See, their buddies went back to work. It's a good thing. >> I need you to go back and talk to me. >> As the original accusations began to fall apart, a different question started to emerge. [music] And with one simple remark, the entire situation suddenly flipped. This time putting the spotlight on the very people enforcing the law. >> Leaving them befuddled, guys. I don't know what the hold up is. I don't know why these guys aren't back at work yet. Officers, corrections officers been on the scene about an hour. Police been on the scene here about 20 minutes at least, maybe 30. Told him to call a supervisor if he didn't understand. Not sure why they're still here. Either we're waiting on a supervisor to explain it to them or they already know that we're legal and they're just trying to wait us out. On the taxpayers' dollars, of course. Seeing we're not doing anything illegal. We're allowed to be where we're at. Still want to waste the taxpayers' dollars. >> It looks like homeboy finally put away his pad. But he sure did keep trying to get my uh my ID. >> As the original accusations began to lose their weight, a different question started to rise. And with one simple remark, the entire situation suddenly flipped. This time putting the spotlight on the very people enforcing the law. Next, one camera, an area with no fence or barriers, and questions that quickly started to surface. What made a seemingly harmless walk around turn tense so fast? >> Let's go for a wander. >> What parish is that? >> Yeah, it's open to the public, my friend. >> Yeah, it's not >> It's open to [snorts] the public. >> Yes. >> Yes. >> What's that? >> It's open to the public. I can just walk in. >> Mhm. >> I can just walk in. It's open to the public. >> Looks like it. >> Well, as you can just walk in, it's publicly accessible. Yeah, but it's publicly accessible. >> get a reaction out of you, mate. That's what you're trying to do. >> I'll go that way. >> So, I'll ask you to go back that way. >> I've got I've got to go up that way. I will go up there. 100% May not be right now, but I will go up there at some point. Uh as as I say, it's open to the public. It's publicly accessible. So, I can sort of get in there. Are you not a police officer? No? >> No, I'm not a police officer, no. >> Okay. Well, you need to be uh extra careful then. So, you do. So, you need to be extra careful. So, you do. >> Why? >> Because you don't have the protection that's afforded to police officers. >> No, you're right. >> Look after yourself. So, if you do something wrong, then you could find yourself yourself in a spot of bother. >> Yeah, I could. You're absolutely right. >> So, just be careful, yeah? >> Careful. It's not that way. >> That's okay, mate. Don't worry. I'll be all right in a minute. Okay. >> Okay. >> You're going to follow me, yeah? >> Yeah. >> All right, cool. You do that. >> You're not being nasty, are you? No? >> No, I've been perfectly polite to you. >> Yeah, you have. Yeah. >> I've been rude. So, I'm just sort of just stating the situation, my friend. It's an interesting place. It's a lovely part of uh part of Sussex, uh It's nice. They've got ambulances out here as well. >> Yeah. >> All right. Oh, jeez. Car park's massive. >> The dispute over access [music] to a public area seemed to have settled down, but the arrival of a female inspector changed the entire tone as a controversial accusation was made without any clear explanation to back it up. >> Yes, I'm sanctioned. >> Hello. >> Hello, I'm Inspector >> How you doing? >> Hello, my name's Haley. I'm on a police officer special team. >> Hey, Haley. You're a police officer are you, >> Yes, I am. >> Yeah, yeah, okay. Do me a favor. Can you take that flag off, please? >> What, that one? >> Yeah. >> Um, I mean, I've got it on there, but >> Do you mind taking it off? It's for Some people find it offensive. I've said it already, yeah. >> Um >> So, you're not going to take You're not going to take it off? >> I'm not for the moment, no. At the moment, um, I think you've gone beyond the area that you're allowed into. >> It's publicly accessible, inspector. >> It might be publicly accessible, but there are signs saying that this is private property beyond that >> It's publicly accessible. >> This is all police property, this part here. So, I'm going to have to ask you to move back towards the front area, okay? Did you need a police officer's assistance with anything, though? >> No. >> No, can you please follow me back round to the point that >> I'm not going to follow you, no. I don't follow people around. >> Okay. All right. >> Um, that is publicly accessible, so if I want to go back in there, well well within my rights to go back in there. >> I appreciate that it is accessible to the public, but it's not permitted for the public. Follow me and I'll show you where the >> No, I'm not a lackey dog. Sorry, you don't, sir, tell me to what to do, inspector. >> Can't Where is the sign that says no Can you come over here? What your name is? So, this is for authorized personnel only beyond this point. >> Okay. >> Okay, so we're going to have to ask you to leave this area. >> Okay. >> I'm not I'm not being difficult about it. I'm really not. >> No, I'm just stating the facts. It's publicly accessible. >> I appreciate it's publicly accessible. >> Right. >> Have you read the sign over there? >> I don't really care what the sign says. >> Okay. So, show it to you. I'm not being difficult. >> to You don't need to read it to me. >> I just want to be really clear about which area is within police station land. >> Yeah, it's right right for a gate up >> Okay, but where is the gate? There isn't there. >> Well, you should You've got to be at your headquarters, you know, like where you don't allow the public to go past. You put gates up there. >> There is a sign that says no admittance, it's for authorized personnel only. >> Okay. >> Okay. I'm pretty sure what you're saying that there isn't a gate here. This is the whole area for police and ambulance. >> With questions still left unanswered, the man kept pushing for a clearer explanation. But the way one officer handled the scene only raised more doubts about the professionalism of law enforcement. >> Yeah. >> What's aggravated trespass? >> Aggravated trespass just by being in there? By being in there? What's What is aggravated trespass? >> Can you please leave? >> I was on my way out, but what just What is What is aggravated trespass, if you don't mind me asking? Why not? >> Cuz I'm really just would like to leave now. >> you threaten me with an offense, and you can't sort of articulate what it is. >> No, no, you ask me a really quick, clear question. >> Right. So, what is aggravated trespass? >> Could you please just come beyond the area? >> So, So, what is aggravated trespass, Inspector? >> Thank you very much. >> is aggravated trespass? >> Sorry, 2 seconds. Sorry, can you take >> That's very rude. Do you mind identifying yourself, please? >> PC Trent, your number's [music] on your shoulder. >> PC Trent, your number's on your shoulder. Trent, your number's on your shoulder. >> Yeah. >> Is that how you're supposed to identify to members of the public, PC Trent? >> Thank you very much. >> identifying formally, please? >> You what, sorry? >> Can you identify formally, please? >> Yes, I'm Inspector Helliwell. My collar number is Echo Alpha 245. Thank you very much. >> based here? >> Um well, based over. >> So, can you just sort of explain to him how you're supposed to identify to members of the public, because he failed to identify formally. Seeing as you're his I would imagine you're the senior commanding officer. Can you explain to him how he's supposed to identify to members of the public? >> Well, he's got a collar number there. >> Right, but how How is he supposed to identify to members of the public? >> I really appreciate you >> Can you articulate your shoulder number, please? >> I'm I'm not going to engage in any further >> Is he Is he Are you listening to this, Inspector? >> Okay, 2 seconds. I'm not going to engage >> listening No, are you listening to this? Is that how he's he's supposed to address members of the public when he's been asked to >> As the man kept asking the questions that mattered, [music] all he seemed to get in return was evasion. And instead of giving the explanation the public would expect, police made a choice that only made the controversy even harder to understand. >> I'm really grateful that you've moved out of the area that is prohibited. >> on my way back anyway, but What is aggravated trespass? Why are you not doing your job properly? >> I am doing my job properly. >> You're not because you've got a charge here that's failing to identify himself and you should be having a word with him. You should be having a word with him. You should be calling out bad behavior and that's exactly what it is, bad behavior. >> I'm really grateful that you have >> Why wouldn't you call it bad behavior, Inspector? Let me Let me ask you something. If you're not willing to do it with the simple stuff, what What What about the more He's not identified himself formally and I want to make a formal complaint. >> Yeah, you absolutely can. You've got his collar number. You've got his number. >> I don't have his collar number. He's not told me his collar number. That's not how you're supposed to identify. It It's beside the point, Inspector, and you know better. So, if you're not willing to call out the simple things, what about when you see someone get a bit more rough with a prisoner or something like that? Are you going to turn a blind eye to that? >> Thank you for leaving the area. >> What What expectation do you have of the public? Do you have confidence in your policing if you're not willing to call out the simple things? Why wouldn't you call out the simple things, Inspector? >> Please continue to >> capitulate >> expect better. You should know better. You're an inspector, for goodness sake. >> Okay. >> Okay? [laughter] With that With that rank comes great responsibility and you're you're you're you're carrying out a dereliction of duty at this moment in time because you're failing to uphold your policies and procedures. I will not listen to your advice. >> Okay. >> And if I go back in there, what will you do? >> I'm not going to engage with you any further. >> If I go back in there, what are you going to do? >> Okay. Thank you. >> I'll be going back in there. I guarantee you that. You're a disgrace, Inspector. Absolute >> The incident may be over, but the controversy it left behind remains unanswered because in any civilized society, silence in the face of legitimate questions can sometimes erode public trust even more than mistakes that are openly admitted. Citizens can sue police [music] under Section 1983 when their rights are violated. Officers who violate those rights may face compensation payouts, disciplinary action, or even termination. Every position of power must come with accountability because respect for the law can only exist when both citizens and those enforcing it are willing to respect each other. So, what do you think about this situation? If you enjoyed the video, don't forget to like, subscribe, and consider supporting us with a donation. Thank you so much. >> [music]