Dude, I don't care. I'd The rules here I enforce. I want her off the property. She's not allowed to film. >> On May 6th, 2024, a citizen with a camera walks into a county complex to request public records. A security guard decides the Constitution is optional and orders her out. Deputies arrive, policy collides with law, and the question becomes simple. Do rules posted on a door beat the First Amendment in Tennessee? Watch how fast that answer arrives. Good morning. Can I ask what we're doing? You could ask. It doesn't necessarily mean I'm going to answer. Well, you're on government property, so I do require an answer. I don't have to I decline to answer. Respectfully decline to answer. >> Okay, well, you have to have permission to film here. This is county government property. Do you know what the First Amendment is? You know what, ma'am? You're on county government property. You have to obtain permission to film. >> No, we don't. We'll just have you removed. That's simple. I'm here to I'm here on official business anyway. >> Okay, and what is that? What is your official time? >> It's none of your business. >> business, okay. The guard immediately launches into demands, acting like he's judge, jury, and executioner. But the auditor knows her rights inside and out, and isn't about to be bullied into silence. His threats escalate. He talks about trespassing her as if that's a magic spell, but she stands firm, reminding him that no rule outranks the Constitution. What's your name? Just stay away from me. I'm just >> have to go this way, but You're right. We don't have to. Am I breaking any laws? >> you are. No, I'm not. Okay. We'll just have you trespassed. You can't do that here. They have rules. We have First Amendment. >> Ma'am. Rules don't trump the Constitution, sir. I just need her removed off property. I'm here for official business. I am, yes, ma'am. I'm walking behind you. I'm walking towards this way. You walk You walked up to me. I'm disengaging with this guy. This This guy is like out of control already. And this guy is following me already. Instead of moving on, he stalks her like a man on a mission, following her every step. At this point, it's less about security and more about his obsession with [music] control. He's already acting more like a harasser than a protector. Stay away from me. I can go wherever I like, ma'am. I'm not >> rules. I'm not violating rules. I'm staying away from you. That's what I'm doing. How about walk off off property? That would be great. >> Stay away from me, sir. >> Ma'am, I can walk wherever I want to walk. Stay away from me, sir. Stay away from me. >> I'm not doing it. Stay away from me. I fear for my safety at this point. I'm fine. There's no threat. You just need to get out of here. That's all. I don't feel comfortable around you. I I don't >> to the library anyway. I don't feel comf- I'm not trying to I'm trying to stay away from you. >> Well, then Cuz because you're scaring me now. You're scaring me now. I'm scaring you? Yes. >> Really? Yes. >> You're not allowed to do what you're doing, ma'am. Yes, I am. >> Government county property. It's public property. >> Yes, it is. >> It's is government property. >> It's government property is public property. No, it's not both. Your name first name? >> both. It is not both. Okay, I have a official business on this property. >> Doing what? It's none It's none of your business. >> my business. I'm the security officer here. >> I'm not posing a security risk. That's your opinion. By filming without permission, you are >> It's a First Amendment protected activity. You are on camera. It's It's It's govern- It's a First Amendment pro- >> that when the police get here. Okay, hopefully they know the law. Now, he insists she's not going into the library and tries to frame himself as the one in danger, but it's clear he's the one escalating the tension, not her. The debate spirals. She points out the obvious, government property is public property. [music] Finally, a deputy steps in. The auditor calmly explains her First Amendment activity, and the deputy recognizes she's not breaking any law. The guard, of course, still [music] refuses to accept it. Oh my god. I'm just trying to stay away from you. Well, I'm Well, I'm going to stand in front of you. You're not going all over my campus filming. You're not allowed to do that. >> Well, I'm walking all around, so it It's not guys I'm going to follow you whether you like it or not. That's okay, but just don't impede in my personal space. >> Oh, please. 6 ft. Look, you're the one in violation here, ma'am. I'm not in violation, sir. I'm not in violation of law. >> are. I'm not in violation of law. I'm not in violation of law. Just stay away from me. I don't have to do that. Oh, you're funny. You're going to run now? No, cuz I'm staying away from you. >> stay away from me. That's fine. The police will be here shortly. I'm filming. I'm not in violation of law. Okay. Do you know what county government rules are here? I'm not in violation of law. >> have any idea? I'm not in violation of law. I'm not in violation of law. I'm not in violation of law. I'm in This guard [snorts] isn't just content with tormenting her. He's determined to make her fear for her very life. According to him, breaking made-up rules is enough reason to bully this poor woman. In Tennessee, the First Amendment isn't optional, whether it's an auditor, or a journalist, or just some guy with a smartphone. You have the right to record public officials in public spaces. If a security guard, clerk, or social worker doesn't like it, the solution is simple. Find another line of work. Hey sir, how you doing? Good. I'm scared for my safety of this guy. I have everything on film. >> [snorts] >> I'm here to do official business, and I'm going to exercise my First Amendment right. That's what I'm doing. Okay. That's what I'm doing. He's security. I don't I'm not breaking any laws. So, you mean you're just going around filming? Yeah. >> [clears throat] >> I'm a citizen of video journalism. This is what I do with government officials. And I'm here on official business. I want to check into the tax maps, stuff like that. And I did film by the DMV, because that's something new. I've never seen that before. So, that's what I was doing. Not breaking any laws, sir. And I'm not giving you my ID, either. Cuz Tennessee is not I'm not it's not a stop and ID state. Unless you unless you being unless I'm being arrested for something, then I have to give you that my ID. Right. Right now, you're not being arrested. Okay. You're not detained. Um, you're free to go. She even educates them both. Tennessee isn't a stop and ID state. Without reasonable suspicion of a crime, she doesn't have to hand over her ID. The deputy nods in agreement, leaving the guard visibly rattled. You're going to be escorted off the property because you guys see where we're at here at the film without explicit permission. And for me to ask her what her purpose is here, and her telling me it's none of my business, well, that's incorrect. Because she's not allowed to film here unless you have explicit written permission from the facilities engineering manager. Those are the rules here. This is Belknap County government property. This is not public property. Government is public property. It is not. I'm sorry, but you cannot film here without permission. I don't need anybody's permission to exercise my first amendment right. Can I talk to your supervisor? Um, probably not. So, she's going to have Your rules are not law. Your rules are not law. This is government property. >> are not law. Oh my gosh. I want to talk to your supervisor cuz I'm here to do official business with public records. Give me just a second. No, I'm staying out of the road, sir. That's what I'm doing. Yep. For my protection at this point. This guard keeps saying government property isn't public. Sorry, buddy, but that's literally the opposite of how it works. Taxpayer funded property is public property unless it's clearly marked as restricted. You don't get to invent your own little fiefdom just because you've got a badge and a clipboard. You're a threat to my safety at this point. >> goodness, yes. Security is a threat to your safety. That's That's rich. That's rich. Wow. I guess you're afraid of the police officer, too, right? No, cuz he has body cam footage. Oh, okay. Cuz without the video, it's he said, she said thing. The guard turns mocking, sneering at her fear, but the irony is painful. [music] His behavior is exactly why she feels unsafe. Without cameras rolling, this situation could have gone much differently. But the truth is simple, his authority doesn't extend to rewriting the Constitution. Just stay away from me. I'll go wherever I want to go. This is my job. This is my post. I will go wherever I want to go. Let's get that straight. Your ego's taking over. There's no ego here. There is. >> It's my job, and you're violating that. I'm not stopping you. Government property, not private, not public. It's not private property, sir. No, it's not. >> What What part of It's not private property. Oh my goodness, yes, it is. While all this was happening, Officer Evans was having a little chat with his lieutenant, and he said some things you wouldn't expect. I'll just talk to the security guard and be like, "Look, man, per my supervisor, she's not hurting anything and not bothering anybody, she can film here. It's just a she's outside the library. She's like out like filming outside of the parking lot? Yeah, she's just being a auditor and I don't know about her trying to get into She can film inside the library, right? Yeah, I just wanted to make sure I just wanted to make sure I'm right. Like yeah, okay. Yeah, cuz I don't She's not doing anything wrong. Now that the police officer knows for sure the county cop is just making things up, he won't let him get off easy. This isn't just one hot-headed guard in Montgomery County. This is part of a bigger pattern we see across the country. Public employees, whether they're deputies, clerks, or social workers, forget that they work for the people. They treat cameras like weapons when in reality cameras are the only reason accountability exists. Okay, so I just got off the phone with my lieutenant. Yeah. And I mean he said she's good to film and walk around. >> she's not. She's not. You don't know the rules here. Right. Okay, you need to you need to check with somebody before you make that. That's my lieutenant. Dude, I don't care. I The rules here I enforce. I want her off the property. She's not allowed to film. That's not up for debate. Period. I mean do I have to call, you know, Mayor Golden or something? I mean if you want. I mean like I said, I just got off the phone with my lieutenant. >> don't care what your lieutenant said. He doesn't know the rules here either. Okay? She's not allowed to film without written consent from Mark, who is the facilities manager. Right. >> If I ask her what she's doing, I expect an answer, not it's none of your business, I'll do whatever I want. I want her off the property. It's that simple. She's not allowed to do what she's doing. Your lieutenant is not his decision to make. These are the rules. But I mean uh Period. And I enforce them. If there's a problem with that, I'll I'll you know, if you're not going to back me up, then I'll It's not that I you know, not wanting to. It's It's you know, like she's She's not allowed to do what she's doing. You don't get it. But I mean legally she's not breaking any laws. This is government property, not public. Right. She can't do it here without written permission and consent. When I ask her what she's doing and she refuses to tell me, she's leaving the property. That's all there is to it. Evans relays the message, but the guard explodes, dismissing even the lieutenant's authority. He demands the woman be removed anyway as if he's the final authority in the county. Evans grows visibly frustrated, pointing out again that she's only filming. The guard reacts like he's uncovered a major crime. The gulf between reality and his version of events keeps widening. From my understanding, she's not breaking any laws and according to my lieutenant Do you know what the rules are here at the county government facility here? Do you know what they are? Anywhere open I mean it's open to the public. Please, do you know what they are? Do you know what the rules here are? No, not in here. I do. That's my job. I'm telling you she's not allowed to do what she's doing and I want her off property, period. It's really simple. She's not allowed to do what she's doing. And after giving me the hard time, I want her off the property. I got other things to tend to. But I mean I'm not allowed to kick her out. You most certainly are allowed to escort her off property. Yes, sir. I've had it done many times. So please don't tell me you can't do that. But I mean she's not correct. But she's not doing anything Oh my goodness, we're going to go over this again? Yes, she is. She is violating the rules here at county government property. You're not She's not allowed to do what she's doing. My goodness. I was asked to escort her off the I want to end this for at this point. All good? Yeah, she's just filming and the security guard got a case of that. and escort her at this point. I'm like, she's not breaking any laws. He's like, well He's like, but she's breaking the rules. I'm like Yeah, I'm like, if you want to kick her out, you can, but I'm I'm not. I don't I don't understand what his issue is. Yeah. Cuz I mean like she's allowed to film in the library. I mean like everywhere that's open to the public she can go. But I don't know. I don't He's He's not getting it. I'm like, dude, she's not breaking the law. Like if you want to call them here, you can call them here. Even after all this, he still blocks her from making a records request, trying to [music] gatekeep access to public information he has no real control over. Evans tries one last time to explain that she isn't breaking the law. The guard, still red-faced, refuses to hear it. His ego has officially replaced any common sense. [music] But I mean like she just agreed with my I don't care what she agreed with. Like I said, you guys don't know the rules here. This is my She's filming me without my permission, which is another violation, sir. She needs to go, period. So doesn't it seem like I mean you're allowed to record I mean like >> No, not here. You have to have written consent, and the person being filmed has to give consent. I do not. She is to leave property. It's that simple. That simple. Those are the rules here, and this is my job, okay? If you're going to undercut me I'm not. Yes, you are. If you're going to undercut me, let me I need your name and badge number so I can turn it in. When I called you guys, I expect to be backed up. Okay, not to be told what it's like off property. On property, it's a different set of rules. >> Well, what I'm saying is she's not breaking the law. >> You don't get it. You just don't get it, dude. You work for the county, you still don't get it. She's not allowed to do what she's doing on county government property. Either escort her off, or please give me your name and badge number so I can take it higher. I'm sick to death of not being backed up here, okay? I'm trying to do the job they tell me to do and you guys are cutting me off at the knees. She's not allowed to do what she's doing. She's not allowed to film me without my express permission and I don't give it. She needs to go. Period. Well, I mean she is Tennessee had it's a one-way it's a I don't get it. May I have your name and badge number? Deputy Evans. This impudent guard thinks making threats is going to work against this cop but later he is going to switch up like you won't believe. If I had to give a reason for his vindictive behavior, it's probably because he was never good enough to pass the test to become a real officer of the law. I would like to have an escort to do public records request. I'm asking him. You're not asking me. No, I'm asking him. Stay away from me, sir. You're not going in that building. I'm asking for escort, sir. I would like to do a public It's not the law. It's county government, ma'am. They have their own rules here. But it's not law. At this point, you might have even forgotten that it was the guard who called the police on the woman with how he's talking to the cop. In Tennessee, government property like courthouses, county offices, libraries, DMV lobbies, and other taxpayer-funded spaces are open to the public unless it's a restricted area like behind the counter spaces, secured offices, or employee-only zones. You can film. I would like to have an escort. There you go. Just a second. I mean you can make phone calls, ma'am. Yeah, I can. Believe me, I'm in the right here. He's like, "I'm not allowing her in any of these buildings." And I'm like, "She's not breaking the law." She's just like first amendment auditing and I'm not I'm I'm I'm not fishing. But he's Yeah, he's got a Yeah. It's not the auditor that's the problem. >> [laughter] >> The cop has had enough, and now he's about to give the guard a piece of his mind, but he will shock you with how little [music] he cares. I got my supervisor coming. Um Dude, this The rules aren't going to change because your supervisor is on the way. >> I know. It's that simple. But I understand, you know, feeling some type of way with somebody feeling filming and stuff like that. >> It's against the rules on this property. It's not how I feel about it. It's period. It's cut and dry. But I mean, it's she's It's not It's not illegal. >> Yes. Dude, you're not You just You don't get it. You don't get it. This is county government property. >> I work for the county. Yes. Then why are you not backing me up here? Because enforcing the rules that I have to enforce here. I I mean, it it If you Listen, if you cut me off at the knees, then you effectively cut my job off. I have no authority here to do my job if you don't back me up. And I I will call Wes and talk to him about this. I've already had to do it once already. Okay? Yeah. Unbelievable, man. Supposed to be working together here. We're both county. Right. Right? >> I mean, but she's not causing a disturbance. She's not hurting anybody. >> I mean It doesn't None of that is That's irrelevant. It's irrelevant. She can't do what she's doing. She's filming me without my permission on this property is not acceptable. But I mean, she's allowed to. She That's That's not against the law, either. Dude, yes. It It You don't have no idea what goes on here. You need to learn what goes on here before you come making a decision cuz you don't know. You do not know. This dirty guard thinks he can order the cop around as he pleases, but it won't end up going well for him when this story is over. Am I getting an escort to do a public records request? >> in that building. >> I'm not talking to you, sir. I'm not talking to you, sir. I am not talking to you, sir. Can I go inside? I'm wanting an escort. What's the process? I don't think I can give you an escort. Well, I don't want this guy escorting me. That's I'm trying to avoid an issue with him. In Tennessee, government employees, whether they're deputies, clerks, or social workers, don't get to ban cameras in public areas just because they're uncomfortable. The law protects citizens, not their egos. The only thing they can allow you to do is record in restricted areas or film private case files, but a public lobby is fair game every single time. Just don't assault me. So, can I go inside to do a public request? See, this is what I mean. If I start walking into that door, he's going to try to to See, this is what I mean. Now Now do you understand why I'm asking for an escort cuz he's he stated he's willing to put hands on me. >> [clears throat] >> Yeah, but I'm doing a I'm doing a records request and that's like under a statute. If he wasn't a guard, there is absolutely no way the cop would let the guard get away with such blatant threats. Maybe I'm not getting my point across clearly. I'm I don't have no point, ma'am. I'm sorry. I don't mean to talk like that, but I have a point here. But if she asked you to leave, you do have to leave. I'm not going in. But I'm going to file a complaint. I'm going to file a complaint against you. Oh. Lawsuits involved, possible lawsuits. I'm here to do a a simple public records request. You have to get permission from our facility's I don't need I don't need permission to to exercise my First Amendment right. >> manager. I don't need to do that. See? So Let my supervisor get here. Yeah, that's what He'll explain it. >> [clears throat] >> Cuz maybe I'm missing something. Maybe I'm not getting it. You're missing the point. The cop who the guard called to help remove the woman now turns his back on him completely and instead starts lecturing him on the law. Both the woman and the guard were waiting for the sergeant to come, but you might not expect whose side he ends up taking in this dispute. I'm going to introduce myself. I'm a Sergeant Fortner. Nice to meet you. I'm a friendly person. I'm just here to do a public records request. I heard that the Tennessee stopped you. I want to inquire about their policies and stuff. Okay. >> That's it. And I did film on the side of the DMV cuz that's something new that I never saw. So I was like it but I never went inside. Okay. I stayed outside. Um I'm just exercising my First Amendment right as a citizen Yeah, I know what it is. Yeah. You're not breaking any laws. What's embarrassing here is that even the deputies had to explain it to him. Your job doesn't outrank the Constitution. [music] Imagine needing the sheriff's office to remind you that you can't ban cameras on public property. I I know what steel is. Okay. So, it's my understanding that the clerk's office didn't ask her to leave. She was outside the whole time. And I was trying to explain to him like, "Hey, she can go in. She can film. What Hey, I just watch your back with that guy." Um No, you're good. Um you're not doing anything wrong as long as you're outside. >> inquire with the public records. Absolutely. Absolutely. Now, as long as you're not accessing restricted areas or anything like that, Yeah. No, you're good. Um And I'm going to have to talk to him, yeah. At this point, everyone has realized that it's the guard who messed up, and you'll be shocked by how he does a complete 180 on everything he was saying earlier. How's it going, man? Good, good, good. So, what's going on? What What we got? Apparently, the library has much different rules than a lot of the other places. In the library, you cannot film without express written consent. You also cannot film somebody in the library without their personal consent. Okay. Okay. So, So, here's the thing with that. >> lady is doing is okay, apparently. It is. It is, absolutely. But, here Here's the thing with that. >> I was saying like, "You're probably not explaining it correctly, you Even if the library says that, Yeah. their policies are not going to trump law. Yeah. I mean, she could still be asked to leave, but I mean, she I certainly can't let her go into these buildings filming and disrupting >> Well, you can. Um because it's it's there's nothing you can do to stop it. >> Yeah. This auditor drummed up so much steam in the community that the office eventually fired the guard. But, what do you think? Let us know in the comments whether you thought the security guard was right in being as aggressive as he was. And if you enjoyed this video, be sure to leave a like and subscribe. >> [music]