Great to see you. >> No, it's not your job to follow to follow me around is not your job. I >> need you to tell me what my job is. >> And like I said, you're dismissed. You can go back to work. >> Okay, I appreciate that sign. Look, I'm informing you informing you that you're trespassing. But you don't put your hands on me. Then you need to walk. >> Don't put your hands on me. >> Then you need to walk. >> A police chief with power and a citizen who refuses to bow down. When the camera turns on, the truth begins to crack. >> To work. >> This is my job. It's great to see you. >> Get out of here, man. You're dismissed. Thanks. >> You always deal with your boss like this. >> I don't have to listen. That's public property. Is that true or not? >> A tense showdown between power and justice. What truth is about to be revealed under the lens? >> That's the face of tyranny, guys, right there. >> Yep. >> Is the public allowed to stand on that dirt? >> You said you don't want to talk. >> Is the public legally allowed? Just one step onto public land sparked a tense confrontation with a chief of police. >> Got this guy following me and you're telling me I can't walk on this dirt right here? >> Landscaping on dirt that's public property and I'm trying to give you the chance to say you know what you're right. >> A provocation echoes under the midday sun igniting a fiery confrontation with an ending no one could foresee. >> This is my job. It's great to see you. >> No, it's not your job. >> To follow to follow me around is not your job. I need you to tell me what my job is. It's a beautiful day. >> Obviously, I know your job better than you. What's your name and badge number? >> Why don't you look at it? You got a gazoo on it, don't you? >> Look at it. >> You tell the judge. >> Tell them whatever you want, buddy. >> Tell them whatever you want. Okay, so we got another one. Get out of here, man. You're dismissed. >> Thanks. >> You always deal with your boss like this. >> Oh, [ __ ] idiot cops over here. Got this guy following me. There's an undercover one-ish. Ford Explorer 7SYN 232. I'd say 2013, 2014, maybe newer. Well, this guy's still following me, of course, cuz he has nothing to do. We pay him to do this. And he doesn't need me to tell him what his job is, although I probably know it better than he does. Oh, this makes it even easier. Cool. Get out of the way, sir. >> I'm not in the way, sir. Why don't you go back to He thinks I'm in the way when I'm behind I was behind this pole. Obviously, I took a couple steps. So, you're the one who asked me if I wanted to get silly. >> You are getting silly. >> You're So, you're the dumb one. >> Is that what that means? >> Is this is this is Why would you say something like that? >> Because I asked you to get off the >> I'm I'm on I'm on the dirt. The police kept following barking orders non-stop, but when asked to cite the law behind them, the only answer was silence. >> Why would you tell me to get off of the dirt >> when it's clear that I can be on the dirt? >> It's not clear. >> Why is it not clear? >> What's that? >> Why is it not clear? >> I can walk wherever I want. But don't you know, >> aren't you Are you a chief or something? >> What are you talking about? >> Are you a chief? >> What are you talking about? >> And you telling me I can't walk on this dirt right here? Landscaping is going. >> Yeah, I can. >> Yeah, I'm not going to argue. >> Do something about it. I >> don't care. This is public property. Don't act like an idiot. >> It don't matter where you think somebody should walk. It don't matter where you think somebody should walk. It matters where public property is. And you're the chief of police number. >> Williams 1260. >> At least when you're teach your chief how to uh identify himself. What an idiot. Go back to work, man. You're making your department look like [ __ ] >> I'm good. Thank you. >> You're good. >> I'm good. >> Cool. Well, walk on the dirt, guys. Let's walk on the dirt. >> Let's go on the dirt. >> Nothing this lame can do about it. What else do we got? I think I got mostly all of them. We recorded the Honda. We didn't get the Toyota, though. And mind you, guys, I'm still on the dirt, right? There's nothing you can do, right? Is there anything you can do? >> Is there anything you can do? Nothing you can do, huh? Nothing you can do, right? That I care about tyrant trash officers like you trying to tell somebody they can't do something. And if you want to get silly, we're going to do this and that. And it's people like you. We don't take your little happy ass back to work. >> I'm sorry. I didn't work. >> You're good. It does work like that. Really? Yeah. You talk to all your bosses like this? >> My boss? >> Yeah. Oh, yeah. >> A citizen dares to challenge power, demanding legal documents and internal records. And what secrets is the entire town of Dixon about to witness being exposed? >> You can't. You can't. It's not provoking a confrontation. I want you to admit what you said is wrong. Act like a chief of police. Act like a chief of police. I am. You can't tell me not to step on that dirt. Is that true or not? I don't have to listen to you. Is that true or not? Come on. Act like a redeem yourself. Act like a chief of police. Act like a You've been doing it for the last, let me see, 15, 16 minutes. You're telling me I can't stand on dirt. That's public property. And I'm trying to give you the chance to say, "You know what? You're right. I don't have to do that. You don't have to listen to me." And I should have never said that. >> Idiot. What's wrong with you? >> Talk to me. >> I just don't understand what's wrong with you. >> This guy wants to get loud and all that. He's got some cops in here just sitting waiting to defend their chief. You probably need a couple more people out here, man. Ain't that how you guys roll? That's the face of tyranny, guys. Right there. Yep. Look at with the stars on. This is somebody with stars on them acting like this. >> What an idiot. I can't believe it. >> Is the public allowed to stand on that dirt? >> You said you don't want to talk. >> Is the public legally allowed to stand on that dirt right there? Yes or no? >> See, that's what we pay for right there, guys. >> What? What an idiot. Tried to give him a chance to even make himself look good, but he didn't want to allow me to do that. Just one baseless order could unleash a legal storm that might drag the entire police department into a federal whirlwind. Behind that silence, what secrets are about to be exposed? You >> told me you're not interested in asking questions. >> I'm asking questions now. I'm interested in asking you a question. Can I be here? >> I don't want to play a trick bag game. >> A trick bag. >> See, that's what it is, guys. They want >> Yes, that's what it is. >> And he's the chief of police. Like I said, he's used to people licking his boots, but I ain't going to lick your boots. Actually, I expect you to lick mine. There they are. >> Are you for real? >> Yeah. >> No, >> I I don't know what you think you're doing or accomplishing, >> but you could have laughed. >> I got to be honest. That was a pretty good >> Okay. Thank you. Thank you. I appreciate that. So, can I be here? >> You know what? As long as we can stay here and talk, you can do. >> And what if you're not here? Is it legal to be right here? >> You're not supposed to trespass in city landscaped areas? >> Trespass in city landscaped areas. >> You walk over flowers, you walk over shrubs, you walk over stuff like that. But right here, there was no flowers or shrubs or anything that I walked over. Right. Like >> a public access area. >> Actually, it does look like a public access. It looks like there's a driveway right there. There's a sidewalk here. There's a sidewalk leading up here. And there's pavers that come over here. All this is public. This is gated off. Private. This is the secured area of the public property. But other than that, all this is public. >> Tell me I can't be here. >> That's I don't know what you I don't know what you want to argue about. >> It's not I'm just trying to give you a chance to make yourself look good. You already look stupid. You already look dumb, man. You're okay with with looking like a tyrant. >> That's going to be the right answer. >> There is an answer. You know what you should have said? You know what you should have said? This is legitimate right here. You know what you should have said? >> Been calling people names and all this. >> Look what you did. You I didn't call you guys any names. I didn't even I didn't even converse with you and you crossed the line then. Yeah, that's when it came out. And now I'm giving you an opportunity right now. You know what you should have said? You should have said, "You know what? You're right. You can stand on that dirt. I should have never told you that." That's what you should say. That's what will make you look good in the eyes of the people, but you won't because you have too much pro. >> Citizens may sue public officials for violating their constitutional rights pursuant to 42 US code SS1983. Individuals/organizations are required to pay damages to the injured party. Violating police officers may be disciplined, have their licenses suspended, fired, or expelled depending on the policy of the agency/ police chief. The incident becomes public evidence against abuse of power and the culture of covering up misconduct within the police force. Up next, a citizen dares to challenge power and within minutes, the tense atmosphere erupts. >> You can't make a public area restrict. You're either gonna walk to the other side of the parking lot or I'm gonna escort you to the other side of the park. >> Don't put your hands on me. >> Don't put your hands on this and you need to walk. >> Um, this officer over here in his personal vehicle, he has unlawful tint on his vehicle. Are you going to cite him for that? >> The police threaten arrest, but when asked to provide the legal basis, the only response is a baffling silence. >> Law enforcement officer, sir. >> Yes, ma'am. Go on the other side of the fencing. >> So, I wanted to talk to you about your unlawful tent over here. >> Go on the other side. Go on the other side, >> sir. Ask you just calm down for a second. >> Go on the other side of the fencing. >> Just calm down. Okay. Well, you're trespassing informing you I'm a police officer. >> I am not. You cannot make a restricted area. This is a public area. There's no signs. There's no signs. >> Let's talk about your window t. >> I'm informing you that you're trespassing. >> I would like to speak to a supervisor. >> Okay. They're right inside. >> Are you shaking? I'm not going to hurt you, sir. >> I'm certainly not shaking. You You can either Can I get your name? Of course. When you get on the other side. When you get on the other side of the parking lot. >> But there's no signs. Look over here. I'm informing you. I'm informing you that you're trespassing. You're either going to walk to the other side of the parking lot or I'm going to escort you to the other side of the parking lot. It says personal. It says per person. You need to walk. You need to don't put your hands on me. You need to walk. Don't put your hands on this. Then you need to walk. Put your hands on walk or I will help you walk. This is not a restricted This is not a restricted area. You're trespassing. >> No, I'm not. This is public property. On the other side, you're trespassing. Put your hands on me. Still on the other side of the fence. I will. >> You don't tell me what to do. On the other side of the fence. >> You don't tell me what to do. Put your Get your hands off of me. >> So now you're not. >> So let's talk about your unlawful chin. Let's talk about your unlawful tin. I'd like to speak to a unformed officer. I would like to speak to a uniformed officer. There's three of you over here. Taxpayer here. Resident of Suffach County. Officer, what's your name? >> Is that a police Is that a police issued vehicle? >> 597. >> Is that a police issued vehicle or your personal vehicle? >> Are you Are you going to invoke your fifth amendment right? This is not a restricted area. >> This is not a restricted area. >> I am verbally informing you. >> The double standard is exposed. the same violation. Citizens face heavy fines while police officers personal vehicles are blatantly ignored. >> Hey, how are you, sir? >> Good, good, good. Hey, I just wanted I'm working on a story about the hypocrisy of of law enforcement, specifically Suffach County handing out uh tint tickets um to residents here in Suffach County when their personal vehicles have tint tickets. U on this officer over here in his personal vehicle, he has unlawful tint on his vehicle. Are you going to sight him for that? Said you're not going to cite him for violating New York State law? >> No. >> Why would that be? Doesn't the law apply equally to everybody? >> We do. We have discretion. Um, >> so you can you have discretion in order to not ticket fellow officers? That's great. That's for be for tints. It could be for >> anything. Anything. >> Every officer has the discretion to not give out. >> But don't you don't you think officer that if you're using that discretion, I understand you say use it with the public. That's fine. >> We could get pulled over going home and they could write us a ticket. >> Obviously. >> Have you ever been ran a tin ticket? >> I have actually. You've been written 10 ticket >> while you've been while you've been an officer. >> I know the risk getting it. So, >> right, right, right, right. I understand. I understand. I understand the risk. >> All right. Take care, officer. Thanks. No, no, no. Take Thank you for talking to me. Appreciate it. Thank you. >> Just want to be the star of the show today. Right. So, you have no right to put your hands on me. >> You got to keep your hands to yourself. We learned that in kindergarten, don't we? Come on. You got to be better than that. What makes you above the law? Are you above the law? You must be cuz you have unlawful tints on your vehicle. You can thank Sergeant Mio of the Sixth Precinct for me launching this investigation. He did a great job retaliating against me. >> A wave of people's citations plastered across police vehicles. A counterattack no one saw coming. >> So, this looks like a personal vehicle. Again, they think that they are above the law, which they are not. So, let's go ahead and write him a ticket. Put it right here for him. There you go. When he comes out, he will see his violation. You could see here marked off tinted windows signed by we the people. No one is above the law here. So here is another law enforcement officer personal vehicle with illegal tint in violation of New York State tint law. Cannot even see inside the vehicle. Again, an undercover vehicle would not have these stickers on there. Suffach County Police Communications Section with the Suffach County Police badge there. So, the windshield cannot be tinted at all. But again, rules and laws for thee, not for me. You have earned yourself a ticket. Tickets. As we saw at the fifth precinct, law enforcement officers aren't going to give each other tickets. They're above the law. They have discretion, as the officer said at the fifth precinct. Right. Another personal vehicle of a law enforcement officer that you cannot see inside of in violation of New York State law. They have earned themselves a ticket as well. This is the third vehicle that we have found in the short time we've been here. I wonder how many we're going to find today. Make sure they have their violation people. This is the fourth law enforcement officer personal vehicle that we've come across that is in violation of New York state law >> from a minor confrontation. The risk of federal lawsuits and a wave of public outrage could erupt at any moment. The video puts public pressure on the Suffach Police Department, exposing the double standard. Laws for the people, exceptions for the police. In total, we gave out 14 citations issued by We the People to Law Enforcement Officers personal vehicles for violating New York State Law, whether that be unlawful tint or unlawfully 14 vehicles, two of which had unlawful plate covers on them. In the beginning of this video, the officer who went hands-on, the two officers who went hands-on because they didn't like that the law should apply equally. No one is above the law. It seems that rules and laws for thee and not for me is very prevalent here in Suffach County and across the country really threatening to arrest me and put me in a cell at the fifth precinct over there. And then here at the headquarters, you know, we didn't really get too much resistance for us recording in the We didn't get too much push back except from the sergeant. He didn't seem to like that we were recording. He thought it was funny. We were handing out tickets to law enforcement officers. I mean, somebody has to do it because as the fifth priest, so therefore, they are above the law and that can never be. No one in this country should be above the law. Absolutely no one. We all need to be held accountable for our actions. >> A strong democracy can only exist when every citizen, including those who enforce the law, is held equally accountable under 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, >> sir. You are violate your work under the color law. >> When the one who is supposed to uphold the law is the one who breaks it first. You know where you are. >> Not to ask me to leave it back. You can't ask me. >> You didn't tell me that. >> Suspected for just walking on the sidewalk. An innocent man was dragged into a legal nightmare and it was all recorded. >> You're working under color lawn. You're breaking you are violating my civil rights. >> They asked for ID without arresting him. When he refused, the police decided to use a more painful way to get what they wanted. >> Are you staying around here? >> I'm staying in Galveston. I'm over here trying to >> You're staying in Galveastston? >> Well, near Galveston Peak Way, exit 25 South. >> You're what? >> Trying to get a video to shoot them this morning. >> You have ID on you? >> What do you need ID for? >> Huh? >> What do you need? >> Because we're investigating something. Okay. Put your >> It has to do with me. >> Put your uh phone on. I'm not trying to resist. >> I I know you're not. Why you breaking my phone? I'm not >> dude. I'm going to give you a pad down, okay? Cuz you're carrying around a stick back. >> I was going to give it as a gift. Look, this guy's been following me. I know I've been circling me and circle me. What's the matter? >> We can do this the hard way. >> You don't got to do no hard way. >> Yeah. I appreciate that. >> I ain't doing nothing. >> Well, we don't know that. >> Filming. Okay. >> So, you ain't got any ID on you? >> No, sir. My >> You're standing in Galveastston. >> My stolen. >> Relax. >> I'm good. >> Okay. I'll tell you what's going on here. >> Okay. We got guys, two guys seen trying to get in trucks. So >> I got video footage of that. That's why my phone is off. >> That's why we're here. My phone. So you don't have any you don't have any ID. What's your name and date of birth? >> Sir, you I'm I'd like to plead the on that's the fourth amendment right there. So right now I haven't wrote no law. >> Right now you're going to be detained until we figure out what's going on. >> That you do have any illegal law. You're acting I have >> no >> I think >> we have every right to detain somebody when we're investigating suspicious persons found in suspicious places. >> I'm waiting for I told you >> and it kind of don't make any sense. It kind of don't make any sense because if you're from Galveston you're not going to take >> near Gston. Okay. Still I don't care where you're from. friends would >> taking him. >> That's like an hour and a half. >> The camera filmed his entire journey, but the police refused to watch it. Do they not want to know the truth? >> Having a conversation. >> Listen, I don't want to have all this conversation for no reason. You guys are picking on me. My camera tells you that I'm not the guy you're looking for. You don't want to look at it. That's your choice. Under code laws right now, you're sending me illegally. I'm telling you, you're sending me illegally. And you know what? Every minute you're holding me up for no reason. You're losing qualified immunity. So look at that thing. There's your proof. You want your proof? right there. That red truck's been going by me, searching back and forth, back and forth, back and forth. I don't know what he's doing. I think he's a little bit nuts about the girl, the the guy that's been that I just showed you in the red truck that the SUV. >> He's in love with the the stepdaughter of the guy I'm waiting for that's a musician. You can look at my phone. You can see the text. It's all right there. Everything's right there. If you don't want to look at it, that's y'all's choice. But you're hold legally where I'm telling you proof's right there. You're totally destroying out of me cuz I'm giving you the opportunity to look. >> You are. Look at Look at the phone. >> Hold on. Uhoh. What? >> You're matching the description of the person we're looking for. >> Really? Look at my phone. It's proof. Uh-oh. >> Right there. My phone is steal from you right now. Oh. I'm going I'm going to If you don't guys don't look at the phone and see what I've been doing and release me, you're you're losing your pension. I'm going to go after you, the county, your your chief, your department. I'm not playing with this stuff, man. I'm a I'm a 55-year-old man. Had two furniture stores in the recent past. This is too much. >> Had what? >> Two furniture stores. I own two furniture stores. I'm promoting music right now and and trying to do a lot of things that are more about marketing and entertaining me for waiting for someone to get up so we can go to work. >> Well, where'd you sleep last night? >> At home in Galveston. So, what time did you get up here? >> About an hour ago, maybe last. I've been waiting for 2 hours. It seems like calling saying, "Come on, hurry up. Wake up. Wake up. The Aoft is where he's staying. >> Handcuffed, fingerprinted, detained. But for what crime? A bizarre arrest with unforeseen consequences. >> Suspicion and probable cause. >> Probable cause is a reason to stop and talk to me. There's no suspicion of mud. I walk down the sidewalk. You stop me. >> Probable. So, back to my first question. Probable cause and reasonable suspicion. Do you know the difference? >> What's your guys already asked for stopping me? >> Hm. You think just cuz someone called said they see me, y'all see me sitting on a bench. That's all that's on my video. >> Well, here we go. We're going to do this. >> Fantastic. >> Aist. >> I'm not doing no fingerprint. If you do, you're violating my Fourth Amendment cuz I ain't broke no law. You don't need ID for asking somebody to legally leave you. I've already off the property. Don't make me rich. I promise you. >> This is a criminal trespass warning. >> This is what I'm giving you. Yes, sir. Well, I'm just telling you. Okay. >> So, that's what I'm doing here. But I need your information to >> not to ask me to leave. In fact, you can't ask me to tell me that. I don't want to argue with you. Will you ask me? >> Come on. >> I'm not fingerprinting. You fingerprint me. I'm going to have you guys. I'm going to have your job. I don't know about your job, but you see you going to break my fingers. They're pulling on my fingers. Extremely difficult. Trying to try to ID me against my will. Sir, you going to violate working under color law. You're working under color law and you're breaking you are violating my civil rights then. >> So if you refuse >> I'm not refusing against my will. >> We're going to be taking you to jail. >> Trying to break my finger just to get an ID where he don't have no right for an ID. I'm not on I'm on public sidewalk. Got no reason to bother you. >> I'm not doing it, man. I'm going to break my finger. Go ahead while I go to jail. My camera's still filming right now. >> So is mine. >> That's right. And just my finger up. I'm not doing All right. >> You want to take him to jail? Let's go to jail. >> Yeah. >> Give me baby Rich. Ain't no reason for it. You don't know the law, you going to call your supervisor. If you don't know, >> well, then why don't you know what you're doing? >> Think about it. You have no reason. >> What happens when citizens know the law better than the police? A confrontation puts the entire patrol at risk of losing their immunity. >> You don't need my information. You're violating my Fourth Amendment right. Why would you want to do that? Why would you want to violate my first amendment right? No one's even let me explain to you >> I think can only happen when once someone's on arrest. You got no reason to arrest me. >> You know the law. You you work as a police. It's not stopping at 3802. Come on, man. >> We had a call. We had a call. I'm not going to argue with you. >> And you don't have to. You got I do have an attorney. >> You ain't got nothing to worry about. >> There's no reason for this, sir. >> You know, you know the law. You have to ask him to leave. I'm not there anymore. They can't ask me no more. I'm not for murder. >> I'm not wanted for murder. Well, why would you want to know that? What if I was wanted for murder? You have no right to ask me anyways. What if that guy was wanted for murder? >> Really? I'm protecting my fourth amendment right cuz you guys are detaining me against my will. >> You know this already. You y'all haven't you don't know the law. It's a fourth amendment right to privacy papers and effects. >> Keep watching YouTube videos. >> YouTube videos. It's the law. 3802 is non-stop identified state. >> You have to be under arrest before you can do it. I I was beginning to become a cloud watcher. My brother is a sheriff in Munford and my my younger nephew my my younger brother's nephew is I mean son my nephew is a Harris County deputy. There's no reason to be harassing me. I'm out here working and you're stopping me. Think about it, man. You didn't have to ask me to leave. I was going to be working. >> What are you doing? >> Video. I was going to do filming a music video today. Look on my phone. Everything I was doing is right there. >> You're homeless. >> I'm homeless. I just sold a million dollar piece of property. Look it up. Are >> you staying in one of these hotels? You're not staying in one of >> Oh, wait. What was it? >> It's You can afford to pay for a room, but not not >> I parking lots. >> I'm waiting for you to film all day. Come on, boss. >> It doesn't have to be this ordinary. >> Why is it this ordinary? >> Hey, I told you it was going to happen. The police contacted the assistant district attorney to justify his arrest for failure to ID even though it was a secondary offense. He was eventually taken to Conro to be fingerprinted, but was not charged with any specific crime and was released without charge. If he successfully sued, the officers could lose their qualified immunity and face personal and financial consequences in a civil lawsuit. 42 USCS 1983. Two years later, all charges against Thomas were finally dropped, but not before he lost his job as a firefighter after filing an internal complaint against the officers. Even though he only had a legally prescribed ADHD medication in his system, he had to pay $1,000 in bail, attorney fees, and lost the career he loved. The case never went to court, but it destroyed his life in the meantime. Hey guys, what do you think about this situation? If you like the video, don't forget to like, subscribe, and support us with a donation. Thank you very much. [Music]