Police State, U.S.S.A.?

[LorDiego01]

http://www.nbc10.com/news/9574663/detail.html

"Cruz, 21, told the NBC 10 Investigators that police arrested him last Wednesday for taking a picture of police activity with his cell phone.

Police at the 35th district said they were in Cruz's neighborhood that night arresting a drug dealer.

Cruz said that when he heard a commotion, he walked out of his back door with his cell phone to see what was happening. He said that when he saw the street lined with police cars, he decided to take a picture of the scene.

"I opened (the phone) and took a shot," Cruz said.

Moments later, Cruz said he got the shock of his life when an officer came to his back yard gate.

"He opened the gate and took me by my right hand," Cruz said.

Cruz said the officer threw him onto a police car, cuffed him and took him to jail."

Given the facts given, and previous precedents of people getting arrested for the same thing in various states in the past couple of months. Plus, all the other attempts at squashing freedom by the Federal Government of the "Land of the Free",

how can you argue that the US is not turning into a Police State, little by little?

Im not looking for Left vs Right BS, or America-Hating-Liberals vs Sheep-Concervatives diatribes, Im looking for educated opinions on whether you aprove of this, or whether this makes you sick.

[LittleRedToyota]

assuming that is all there is to the story (you never know with the mass media), that is absolutely disgusting. not at all surprising, though, unfortunately.

just a few more miles to east germany--we're getting closer every day.

"when the people fear their government, there is tyranny; when the government fears the people, there is liberty."
--thomas jefferson

[kimbercdp]

Who was the picture(s) being sent to? Or was he taking it for his photo album? (doubt it) It may have been this was not the police's only stop that evening, and sending pictures to other people kind of defeats that purpose.

[Archiver]

Originally Posted by kimbercdp

Who was the picture(s) being sent to? Or was he taking it for his photo album? (doubt it) It may have been this was not the police's only stop that evening, and sending pictures to other people kind of defeats that purpose.

SO What? Are you attempting to justify bad police behavior? So whats the difference if its a Picture? Perhaps you can be more clear...but it seems you are insinuating he's alerting drug dealers...Does a picture make that much of a difference?
Even if thats the case...Why not iphone them and give a description from comfort of his own house? Or better yet video tape the whole thing! Thats what the police were afraid of....a Rodney King Incident. WERE they abusing the "drug dealer"? Probably! If they did that to a bystander than they they must have feared a picture was taken of something they shouldnt be doing. Its simple...be a GOOD COP...dont abuse people...respect their rights and all is well.

Democrats arent the ONLY threat to our civil liberties as people seem to think on most gun boards...WAKE UP! In actuality they defend ALL the other Amendments better than any other party...its dumb they are so anti2nd...they'd win every time otherwise!

[Steve in PA]

I think their is more BS in this story than a cow pasture.

First the police don't come up and take anyone by the hand. They don't put you in a car, THEN cuff you and take you to the station.

There is no "new" law that prohibits the taking a picture of the police with a cell phone. It may be inappropriate or interefering say during a traffic stop, or walking up to a cop while he is doing something. But if it is from say, across the street I don't think it would fall into either one of those things.

So there was no supervisor or person in command at the time of this? No Sgt, Lt, Capt, etc? So no one else got arrested and thrown in jail that night?