And Again-LA Photographer Detained for ‘Interfering’ While Taking Photos 90 Feet Away
Photographer/rights crusader Shawn Nee is back in the news, this time after he was detained and handcuffed by Los Angeles police for “interfering with an investigation” while taking photos in a public place.
The incident took place June 2nd, but only recently came to light when libertarian magazine Reason released the following video in which they talk to Nee about the altercation and show some of the footage he captured on a body cam as it was happening:
Nee said he was taking photos of a homeless man whose life he has been documenting for five years, when police showed up at a nearby apartment building to handle a domestic dispute.
Nee started using a body camera to capture video of the police — from 90 feet away across the street and behind a chain-link fence — when an officer approached him and asked, “is there any reason why you’re filming people?” Nee identified himself as a working photographer but declined to give his name or employer, after which the officer arrested him for “interfering with an investigation.”
More: LA Photographer Detained for ‘Interfering’ While Taking Photos From 90 Feet Away
Here’s the full un-edited body cam footage:
This photographer was certainly pushing it by refusing to ID himself. Both sides could have handled this better.