Excuse me, can you erase me on that? I don't Just kind of getting a quick idea of what you're what you might be doing right now. Well, we had a few peop- people call. They were concerned. They just wanted to We're just trying to figure out what's going on. Just for holding a camera out in public, these men were suddenly asked by police to show ID for no clear reason. But what happened next completely flipped the situation on its head. I know what you're doing. I don't have a problem with you guys at all. >> Yeah. We just have a no video, no photography policy for Am I here to defend your rights? What rights do we have in this situation on a public sidewalk that you are here to defend? What seemed like a harmless request for ID quickly turned into a tense confrontation within minutes, where the line between law enforcement and overreach started to come into question. Just for holding a camera in a public place, this man was quickly treated like a threat, even though he hadn't broken any laws. But it was the reaction that followed that truly turned the situation into a heated controversy. Excuse me, can you erase me on that? I don't want to be on tape. So So you drive you make sure you drive this way out the exit and then you stop in front of my And then you stop in front of my camera, really? See, it seems that you do want to be on camera. Have a good one though, all right? Ooh. >> You got to go unreasonably close to me and was staring right at me. But here we go. What up, brother? How's it going? Good man. What are you doing out here? Obviously filming, but what are you what are you doing? Here you go. So what So what I do is I go around and I stress test first amendment right to the freedom of press in public. I see how people respect our rights. I don't mind you filming. All right. Do you support constitution? I always, brother. But some of the some of the customers may frown upon it. I'm just giving you a heads up. All right. You may catch some bad crap. It is what it is, man. What are you What are you posting this somewhere? >> Yeah. Yeah. So I film I film videos for your social media and stuff like that. Okay. Anybody in particular or Everybody, man. >> Everybody. Everybody. >> You working with somebody now? Am I working for somebody? I work for myself. Oh, okay. Okay. Okay. You're selling your stuff. Yeah. I mean, technically, yeah. Okay. I don't have a problem with you being out here. I'm telling you some of the customers may swerve a little bit. Watch out. All right. After what seemed like a harmless initial encounter, the attention from people nearby quickly started focusing on the man with the camera. And just minutes later, a stranger suddenly approached, sending the situation in a much more tense direction. Oh, yeah. Wow. Mine doesn't sound that loud. I know, I know, neither does mine, trust me. >> I think he did that for you. I think so, too. Have a good one. Do people know they're being videoed? I'm sorry? Do people know they're being videoed by you? Did you know I was that you were being videoed? All right then. Did I >> So, yeah, probably. How can you do that? How can I do that? It's the First Amendment. How about why are you doing it? Why am I doing it? Well, what I do is I go around and I stress test our First Amendment rights to the freedom of press in public. I see if people respect our rights out in public or not. Well, I just asked I asked I asked you why >> Do you support the Constitution? >> Yes, why All right, awesome. Well, that's what we love to hear. Why are you doing it in front of a cannabis Well, because I'm out here, I'm seeing if people respect our rights out in public. And we do. Thank you, take care. >> awesome, you as well. What's up? Why are you What are you doing? What am I doing? Like, do you not know what I'm doing? Well, there she goes. Maybe she pulled all the way down here to see what I was doing. After drawing a wave of suspicious looks, the man moved to a public area near a bank, but just minutes later police arrived and immediately demanded his ID in a highly controversial stop despite there being no signs of any crime. Back way. Nice bike, man. Yeah. As you can see, he's a very, very pleasant person. How's it going, sir? How's it going? Just kind of getting a quick idea what you're what you might be doing right now. You're trying to get a quick idea of what I might be doing right now? Yes. Like, do you mean like outside of filming? So, yeah, while you're filming the area, I'm just wondering why. Oh, you're just wondering why? Yes. Does it really change anything or Well, we had a few peop- people call. They were concerned. They just wanted to We're just trying to figure out what's going on. I'm just filming, man. Everything you can see, that's it. Okay. I just want to make sure that you're safe cuz right now you're in a kind of a more dangerous position, okay? >> it. Thank you. All right, so that's like a safety concern for me. Oh, thank you. I appreciate that. Because right now you're on the edge of the road and God forbid I don't want to see anybody get hurt. Oh, I appreciate that, man. Thank you. >> Do you have an Do you have an ID on you by chance? Do I have an ID on me? Yes, some form of identification. For what? So I can identify you so I know who I spoke with. I'm good You can identify me as good citizen. Okay, is there a reason why you are taking a video? Is there a reason why you just came up and asked me for my ID? Like that That really doesn't make any sense. >> with. Well, why do you need to do that? So I can document who I spoke with. Right, but okay. All right. What do you need to get someone's identification, usually? I just need to speak I just want to identify you just so I know who I spoke with. >> Okay. Okay? All right, sounds good. Anything I can help you with anything else or Just trying to figure out why you might be filming the bank. All right. Do you care to answer that question? >> if that's the case, then you're all good. You're After failing to force the man to provide ID without cause, the officer began changing his approach. And that's when the absurdity of the situation truly started to show. It's missed. You don't want to tell me why you're filming the bank and filming the ATM area and possibly keeping up >> really when you just came up to me and asked me for my ID and you're No, no, I really don't. I really don't want to get into >> there's no law saying I can't ask you for your ID. Absolutely. No law telling me I can't tell you no, right? Not necessarily. Not necessarily? So, right now I'm just looking to speak with you. Just have a conversation here. >> All right. Do you care to answer why you're filming a bank account including ATMs and individuals at the bank? What I'm I'm just uh like I I'm I'm just trying to get into like what you're getting at here. Like down the road, like what's what's the point? Like why? Why Why does Why does the why matter for you specifically? Just trying to figure it out. Right, but are you just you're you're doing that because people are curious? Well, people were concerned. All right, you know I'll I'll make you a deal. How about this? If you want to go and ask this guy right here why he's driving a white truck because I'm concerned and I'm curious and he gives you a valid reason and a valid, you know, reason as to why he's driving a white truck today, then then uh maybe I'll consider having a conversation about why I'm filming. >> right now more so I'm concerned of where you are. Right. Yep. I don't want to put your, in my opinion, you're at risk right now. You're on an unsteady ground with a high with high traffic area. >> Okay. All right? So, again, if you want to film, legally you can film outside I I know. Thank you. Thank you. >> But, I'm more concerned about your safety right now. If you would care to just move down to a safer location. >> as soon as I'm done. I will. Just think. Just think? Just think. Interesting words to leave with. Very interesting. There were no clear signs of a crime, but just because of a camera in public, police still demanded ID without cause, leaving many people questioning where the line is between law enforcement and overstepping authority. 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, a group of men with cameras stood outside a Sonic restaurant, continuously filming employees and customers coming in and out. At first, everything seemed pretty normal, but their unusual presence quickly started drawing attention from the people around them. >> Put that license plate After just a few minutes of filming outside, their presence finally caught an employee's attention. And then the first exchange began. But what was said only made the situation more confusing than ever. So, what do you do with sir? What is it? I didn't hear what you said. >> I said, "How's it going?" Oh, it's okay. It's going to warm up as the day goes on. What are you guys doing? Just getting license plates and doing facial recognition and all that. What for? Uh we can't really get into it. Our just our boss sends us out to these places and tells us we have a job to do, so we just have to come do it. Interesting. Yeah. We're not going to go like in or on your guys' property. Okay. We won't even go be long. Just like a couple of hours. Couple of hours? Yeah. Yeah, we're just getting everybody's license plates and faces and stuff. Who are you guys with? Uh Just our safety. Just our safety. From vague suspicions alone, this encounter quickly escalated into a tense confrontation where the line between law enforcement and overreach became more blurred than ever. No photography policy. I'm sorry. So, right now we're on your property, sir? And I'm not trying to be on your property. Right. What do you guys own up to? Do you know? >> To the street. Oh, all the way to the street? Yeah, we take care of all the flower beds and everything. Yeah. Oh, okay. So, where does the public walk at? Well, let me ask you this since you are here. What is you guys' Wi-Fi password? We don't have a public Wi-Fi at all. You don't? So, there's no way for us to upload these pictures? That's why I was saying, what is you guys' password then? We we don't have Wi-Fi. So, there's no Wi-Fi in there? No, we don't we don't give that out to the public. It's It's private use only. >> bucks. If we buy something here? >> sir. I apologize. If we buy something here, can we get the Wi-Fi maybe? We don't do that for anybody, actually. Yeah, there's no way for us to upload the And again, you guys, we're not we're not trying to, you know, do anything. We're just standing right here peacefully. No, we're not. I I I don't have a problem with what you're doing. I don't have a problem with you guys at all. >> Yeah. We just have a no video, no photography policy for Sonic. We have 300 more pictures. 300 more. We have to get 300 more pictures. You said 299 or 300? >> Oh, yeah, that's close. Yeah, cuz I just got that lady leaving. Right. Yeah. So, I I apologize, but yeah, we just can't have you here doing this. Well, we're not allowed to leave our post until we're finished. But he said, "Make sure you guys are not on their property." Well, well, you are. Well, I looked at the GSI survey here. It says you guys don't own the public sidewalk. >> I'll call the police department. No, don't do that. Why would you do something like that? I'm asking you guys I'm asking you guys really nice to leave and not do this here. I've been trying to hide from the police, actually. I got warrants, bro. >> [laughter] >> You don't have to You don't have to call them. Okay. You're making me nervous. Yeah, you're making me real scared. I'm going to tell the boss, bro. Okay, well, this will going to time I'm going to have to do this. >> I'm going to have to make a phone call. Okay. You guys do that. Wait, wait. Let me show you this. >> name? Who is telling us to do this? My name is Thad. T H A D. Can I show you Yes, sir. Can I show you something real quick? Sure. So, there's a yellow line. That's actually your guys' property. There's a yellow line right here be on this side of the blue line. That's your property. >> not going to like this if he's if he's not going to >> We have to. He's not going to like that. Uh And I need my back end. You know, he gave us half now and half when we finish the job. We're doing good for this month of February already. So, we just We got to keep going, you know. After the store owner walked away, police quickly arrived and pushed the situation far beyond reasonable limits, absurdly accusing the group of trespassing before repeatedly demanding ID without any legal basis. At that point, many were left wondering, was this really law enforcement or outright abuse of power? Listen, how you doing, sir? Yeah, what's going on? What do you mean? I I didn't What are we doing out here on the property? Maybe I should not have to be here, it sounds like. Did you speak with them, sir? They called the number I was I had to show up on the property. >> another right there. I spoke with the guy. I let him know that I have no intentions on going in or on his property. That we're just standing on the sidewalk just peacefully Right. recording. What are you doing? So, you're not with the company like you told him? You said what? You're not working with the company like you told him? We're just recording in public peacefully. Did you tell him you were with a company? We said we was working for a boss. Okay. Who's your boss? I can't really get into it. Why not? We're just trying to Could you smile for the camera just real quick? What for? Just We're just trying to see who has the prettiest smile. Well, I don't think this is the right place to do it with people and cars. >> been a lot of people smiling. Sure. Yeah. Could you smile? You you an ID on you? Huh? Do you have an ID on you? Yes, I do. I got Uno cards. You don't have an ID? Uno reverse card. Could you like to look at the look at this time? That's not what I asked you. I asked you if you have an ID. This is this is the fourth amendment. Right, unlawful seizure, right? Am I seizing you? Did I say you're free to leave or anything like that or say you're not free to leave? Well, are we detained or are we free to go? I'm just talking to you. I'm asking if you have an ID. Yeah, everybody has an ID. Okay. Yeah, but you're not going to see it. Okay. Yeah. So, what are we doing here? >> badge, sir? Oh, he's kind of smiling. >> That's our sergeant. Now, this is who we need to speak with, this sergeant. Can I Could you smile? >> sergeant also. >> Could you smile? The what? >> The smile. I'm trying to see who has the prettiest smile. No, I'm not going to smile. You got it. When the group showed they clearly understood their legal rights, the officers' accusations started falling apart. And then, the statement, "I don't think you have that right." coming from the officer himself left many people seriously questioning his understanding of the law. All right, Sergeant Barnes, we're just standing on the sidewalk. >> Okay. We told the guy we have no intentions of going in or on his property. >> They're concerned about facial recognition. >> Well, I have a question for you. They're trying to recognize beautiful smiles. >> Hold on, hold on. Before we talk to him, why did you park like that? All right. Well, it's private property. >> but you're kind of blocking You're kind of blocking like other people. Talking about blocking people? Huh? And the disturbing people? Who's disturbing? Yeah, we haven't spoke with anybody. You're clearly I mean, somebody's called about being disturbed. Well, we're exercising our first amendment, protected activity. >> gentleman right here is very concerned about disturbing other people. When y'all are out here to What I say What I say about disturbing? Well, you said that person couldn't get out. He's disturbing where they're parked. >> That's that's blocking somebody. That's not disturbing, blocking them. Well, what's the difference between >> I just I just I just asked him if he could park. >> And let me ask you this, Sergeant Lynn, what rights do we have in this situation that you was here to defend? Am I here to defend your rights? What rights do we have in this situation on a public sidewalk that you are here to defend? I don't think you have a right. They called me because you were disturbing their business. >> a right, sir? Did I say that? >> Could I Could I just Could I just take your badge? >> Well, I'm actually >> Well, you're recording, so you can play it back. One by one, the baseless accusations fell apart. No arrests were made. But what happened still raised a serious question. When authority is exercised based on vague assumptions, where is the real line between law enforcement and overstepping power? I'm asking you, what rights do we have right now in this situation on this sidewalk that you are here to defend? Have I disturbed any of your rights yet? >> But what rights have you said yet? He said yet. Have I forced you to leave? Have I forced you to identify? Have I done anything that you cannot walk away from? >> But what I'm saying is, what rights do we have in this situation >> Same rights as everybody else right now. Have I disturbed any of your rights? >> So, are we detained or are we free to go? >> You're free to go. >> Okay, thank you. Free to go, free to stay. We not bothering nobody. We not being offensive to nobody except for the gentleman that came and spoke to us. So, please, you're bothering somebody. All right, guys. You're free to welcome to record and do all that stuff as long as you stay on the sidewalk. Management doesn't want you on their property. That's it, okay? >> said this was his property. Okay. And he did He said it to when you walked up. >> Did I say that? Yeah, you did. You said we're standing on their property. All right, guys. Guys. I was walking. You got [laughter] to leave. Yes, sir. 10-8. 10-8. 10-8. We don't need any directives. All right, so Don't Don't pee on yourself. We got you, sir. Don't forget to put your seatbelt on when you go back to your car. >> said that you're on the property and he wants you to trespass. That'll be something different, but just do me a favor, stay on the sidewalk. Y'all have a safe day, okay? Thank you. Don't Don't forget to buckle up, okay? Just exercising a legal right in public, but when police misuse their authority and push beyond legal limits, an ordinary situation can quickly turn into a dangerous confrontation, and it could happen [music] to anyone. What started as a seemingly harmless situation quickly turned into a confrontation that left many asking, "Where is the true line of authority, and what happens when it's crossed?" If you enjoyed the video, don't forget to like, subscribe, and support us with a donation. Thank you so much. >> [music]