Photographing Architecture is Still Not a Crime, Police Harrasment at 45 Fremont Street
So I know that I write a lot about being harassed for my photography on the streets of San Francisco and for some this story may be getting old. I shoot every day though and at least once or twice a month have a run in with a security guard or authority figure of some sort somewhere. Typically I can resolve these episodes on my own amicably with the individual involved, but sometimes things go over the line. In the past year I’ve blogged about three of these incidents that crossed the line. One was when a security guard at One Bush was following me around the sidewalk trying to put his hand in front of my camera and not allowing me to shoot the building. Another was when the Sheriff’s Department detained me and ran what I consider an illegal background check on me merely for shooting near the train tracks in Oakland. Another was when a particular nasty altercation took place between me and a security guard who came out of 45 Fremont middle finger a’blazin’ to insist that I not shoot that building.
But today’s episode was the worst I’ve encountered so far. Ironically enough, it occurred once again outside of 45 Fremont Street. This was even after I spoke with a PR person from the Shorenstein owned property who apologized to me for my treatment and assured me that I would find a more tolerant atmosphere at that property in the future.
Today, aqui-ali (another local Flickr photographer), helveticaneue (in from out of town) and I went out to do a bit of shooting. Since Aqui had a meeting down on 2nd Street later this afternoon we decided to head that way and shoot the Transbay Terminal. 45 Fremont was in our path and we were shooting some photos of it as we were walking by. It was then that the security guard there told us that we could not shoot the building. When I explained that we were in a public area and had a right to shoot the building he insisted and called another security guard over on his radio who also tried to get us to stop taking pictures of the building. I still refused as it is my right to shoot buildings in San Francisco from a public area.
45 Fremont Security Guard and “Police Officer” who refused to provide identification after physically asaulting me.
It was at this point that things went from bad to worse. At this point an individual came over who identified himself as a police officer and told us to get out of the plaza, off the sidewalk and to physically stand on the asphalt in the street where the cars were driving by. When I tried to object this individual (who was significantly larger than me) assaulted me and forcibly grabbed my arm quite hard and pulled me towards the street. When I freed myself from his grip I told him that I was going to take his photograph. He told me that I could not take his photograph and that if I did that I could “watch what would happen to my camera.”
I took his photograph anyways and that is him up there at the top of the story. Once he had us physically on the asphalt in the traffic off the sidewalk I once again asked him for his identification and asked to see his badge. He refused to provide me his identification and refused to show me his badge. It is my understanding that when someone identifies themselves as a police officer that I have a right to see their identification proving this fact. This prevents anyone from falsely impersonating police officers and abusing a false authority. I asked him at least five times to see his badge and he refused. He continued to confer with the security guards at the building though.
I believe that this individual either committed an illegal act by illegally impersonating a police officer or by acting in the capacity of a police officer while refusing to provide me proof or his badge when asked. Worse, he physically assaulted me and threatened me. I’ve even got a bruise and a pretty sore arm where he grabbed me.
This should not happen just because a hobbyist decides to take photographs of a building from a public area on the streets of San Francisco. This was abuse. I do not know in what capacity this individual was working with security at 45 Fremont but they were complicit and also forced us to stand off the sidewalk on the street asphalt. helveticaneue and aqui-ali were both present and witnessed this happening as well.
Update: I just received an email back from my contact from my previous run in with 45 Fremont with The Shorenstein Company who told me that while his security guards witnessed the incident that it was actually the security guards at 50 Beale Street and *not* the Shorenstein guards that I had this problem with today. He also told me that he thinks this “policeman” is a security officer working for a tenant in that building. If anyone knows which tenant that this might be at 50 Beale I’d appreciate that information. I am also going to try and contact management of 50 Beale to hopefully work this situation out.
Update #2: Today I:
1. Filed a police report. The case has been assigned to an Officer O’Reily. I have his phone number and will be checking in with him on the progress. I also confirmed with the desk officer at the Tenderloin Police Station (the closest to my work) that if a citizen requests ID from a police officer that an officer is required to provide it. This officer also told me that it is department policy not to touch someone without first showing your badge. He told me that he did not think that this individual was a police officer and that he did not recognize him.
2. I stopped by the building and spoke with Brad Meyers, the property manager. According to Brad, the individual in the photograph as well as the security guard assisting the individual in the photograph do not work for the building. Brad told me that he believed that the individual who assaulted me worked for Bechtel but did not know his name. Brad also appologized to me for the incident and told me that photography in fact is allowed in the public park area next to 50 Beale St. He said that occasionally protocol will be to have a photographer sign a waiver to release the building from any liability should they injure themselves but that it was not protocol to force photographers into the street as had been done to me. He has put a call in with Bechtel’s security and is going to follow up with me later.
Brad also told me that Bechtel does not own the building but is a tenant.
3. I spoke today with Mike Meehan who is Vice President and Assistant General Council for Allied Barton Security Services, the company that employed the gentleman who originally requested that I not take photographs. Mike is on the East Coast and has put a call in to his West Coast office to try and determine what happened from their perspective. He is going to be in contact with me and will follow up with me on this. I asked him if he would provide me the name of the individual for my police report if he is an employee of their company and he said that he would need to take that under adviseme
nt.
Will continue to update with details as available.
Update #3:
In response to my run in with an unidentified individual who identified himself as a police officer, assaulted me and refused to show me identification as a police officer, I received this letter from Bechtel Corporation yesterday.
I have again asked for the name of the individual who identified himself as a police officer and requested Bechtel tell me what if any disciplinary action was taken against this individual.
While Bechtel still refuses to confirm whether or not the individual who harrassed and assaulted me is an employee of theirs, it is probably fair to assume that they would not be sending an apology letter were he not. I will continue to pursue this though and am confident that I will be able to get more information with regards to this case.
Forget the police report. You NEED to press charges and sue this guy for assault. Even if you lose getting this guy in some very hot water is the ONLY way to teach tough guys like this a lesson.
Anybody posting that you are a “pansy” or that you need to stop taking pictures because of “security concerns” is totally full of shit.
Forget the police report. You NEED to press charges and sue this guy for assault. Even if you lose getting this guy in some very hot water is the ONLY way to teach tough guys like this a lesson.
Anybody posting that you are a “pansy” or that you need to stop taking pictures because of “security concerns” is totally full of shit.
When are we going to have a photo meet up in front of 45 Fremont???
He couldn’t provide ID because he doesn’t really exist. Black helicopter style.
I stumbled upon this article by chance. At first I though that maybe the ” officers ” were jumpy after 9/11. I do not know the building as I am from the UK.The more I read, the more I wonder if this would happen this side of the pond. I have certainly had no trouble with security whilst taking shots that could be of some use to terrorists, thieves etc.Maybe the rent-a-cops in US are slightly bolder that UK variety.
Wishing you well. It sounds like a full scale assault by a group of photographers is on the agenda.
you think the DA has time to file your case? There are real crimes which occur in this city, as my co worker tells me, “Let it go.”
Sue him. Free speech suffers if good people let bad things happen!
So, where were aqui-ali and helveticaneue during all this? Did they not capture the confrontation photograpically?
Get a tazer and be ready for Wilford Brimley the next time.
I love what you do and the way you do it but sort out your site buddy, the adverts on the right hand obscure your text
Oh how the world must be laughing !
So you were threatened, bullied and assaulted. Big deal. Tens of millions of people around the world are threatened and bullied by your country. However instead of then merely receiving a few bruises they are murdered, their homes destroyed, their children mutilated and their women raped and abused.
All in the name of the same “ideal” of “freedom” that you only seem to take any interest in when it affects you personally.
It’s a shame Americans don’t/can’t “do” irony otherwise you would realise how ridiculous you seem to the CIVILISED world.
If you want sympathy then why not, just once, start questioning the climate of fear that your Government is creating not only abroad but, as you have now found out, in your own backyard.
I agree that assault and impersonation of a police officer are crimes, but then again so are genocide, lying about WMDs, illegal wars, illegal sanctions, supporting dictators when it suits you, detaining innocent people without trial etc etc etc.
Hopefully after you’ve all held hands and held a vigil on Fremont Street in support of your own rights you might make the trip out to Guantanamo Bay to see how a few bruises compare with the systematic beating and torture of people who don’t have the chance to voice their dissent or to prove their innocence.
You may argue that as individuals you aren’t responsible for the vile, illegal actions of your Government …(most of which you aren’t aware of since your TV and Press censor so much of the news compared with countries outside the US)… but i would argue that you are being nothing more than whinging, ignorant hypocrites.
You dish it out a whole lot worse to others, but can’t take it yourselves.
Never mind … bullies always lose out in the end.
Hooray for your actions and I encourage you to follow through. Our freedoms and liberties are only guaranteed by our courage and determination to keep them.
If you haven’t done this, I suggest you take your story to the press and see if you can interest them in your story.
I also think you may have a civil case and you may want to see an attorney. It seems you have witnesses and other evidence, and a judgement against this type of action would protect us all.
How about a strongly worded letter to Bechtel suggesting that you’re prepping a lawsuit against them unless they provide the name of the individual who harrassed you? That ought to get the cockroach crawling out of the woodwork.
When I was taking pictures in front of the Walt Disney Concert Hall in downtown Los Angeles
http://www.terragalleria.com/california/california.los-angeles-downtown.2.html
I was also told by a security guard first that I could use my tripod only from the street, not from the sidewalk. Not one liking confrontations, I obliged and returned latter in the day. A second security officer than told me that the inner half of the sidewalk belongs to the Music Center, while the outer half belongs to the City of Los Angeles. He even showed me the official limit.
FYI
I have run into situations where building owners claim to own sidewalks around the building. In some cases this is correct – the property line includes the sidewalk where people walk by, but you can still take photographs there – because there is a PUBLIC EASEMENT that permits the public to be there. So even if the building “owns the sidewalk” it is still a public place.
The sidewalk is ALWAYS ALWAYS owned by the city – only. Period. No ifs, ands or buts. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise. The property line starts ALWAYS at the inner edge of the sidewalk.
The sidewalk is ALWAYS ALWAYS owned by the city – only. Period. No ifs, ands or buts. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise. The property line starts ALWAYS at the inner edge of the sidewalk.
From the UK…
Yesterday I was at a protest and in discussion with the police about an “alleged attempted theft” (I’d threatened to switch off the engine of a car left running with no driver at the wheel on ‘private property’). We were hanging about waiting for one police officer to decide whether I should be arrested for failing to give them my name and address after said officer had specifically said he wasn’t going to arrest me (I therefore wasn’t obliged to give my details). Anyway, while we were waiting, a second police officer started arguing with my friend and I decided to take a picture of them, silhouetted against the sun. This second police officer went ballistic and demanded that I should delete the picture as taking it was a breach of her human rights.
I refused and pointed out that there are CCTV cameras everywhere taking pictures of all of us without our permission, and that the police have taken miles of footage of me, but she wasn’t to be placated. The first officer came back and declared that I was to be arrested, and they bundled me into the police car, at which point the second officer started shouting again about the picture.
Knowing the sort of thing police officers are likely to do in such circumstances, (eg http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/4291424.stm) and given that the camera actually isn’t mine (thank you Brendadada), I decided to cut my losses and deleted the picture for her. But I’m pretty pissed off about it.
While i read the entire story…i did’nt read all of the comments. But this is what Id do. I would go back there ( im sure im as big as that guy..im 6′ 3 290lbs. )..start shooting pictures..and as soon as that asshole touched me…id send him to the emergency room. Plain and simple. You have a right to defend yourself. Go back there and defend your rights. Hell..take a friend or two.
If i were taking pictures and some big baboon came up to me and tried to intimidate me, I would arrest him myself after he failed to ID himself as I am a peace officer in my state.. Keep Fighting!!!!
That’s why I always carry a concealed weapon with my permit of course
At the very least, the individual that you photographed has privacy rights. Some people don’t like photos being taken. That is their opinion, and that is that. Find something meaningful to gripe about.
I remember that security guard(in hat),He has always been non-confrontational to me in the past….Looks like he is getting old
Seriously, I get this sort of thing all the time. That being the case, I have become quite resistant and defiant to anyone who does not have a badge or ID to show me. I almost want to head down there myself and take pictures just to get this guy going. I suppose that wouldn’t reflect too well on those who are doing this sort of thing innocently, but with people like this, you need to put them in their place. Perhaps I will head over there on Sunday…
Impersonating a police office is a serious crime everywhere in the country. I noticed you filed a police report. Follow up on that as much as the security company the individual works for, regardless of whether or the security company makes amends. This individual committed a serious crime and should be prosecuted to the full extent of the law (in this case persecuted not meaning you have to incur any expenses, just press charges and let the local authorities handle it).
This individual is clearly a public threat, and if you don’t press charges, you’ll be doing the public a disfavor.
How many pictures do you need of the same god damn place? I agree with your right to take pictures in a public place, but after the first few times being harassed, it’s like you are asking for it…trying to gain more publicity. Perhaps you are on some kind of a mission or something. In which case, you seem to be quite successful seeking out the ones who are regular harassers.
It seems this kind of stuff is going on an awful lot lately. Perhaps it is time for a photography flash mob at some of these places. If one photographer freaks them out how about 500.
I recommend that you tell Bechtel that it’s in their best interests to definitively state whether or not they employed this person who assaulted you, and if so, who he is. If they don’t make a definitive statement about it one way or another, you might feel forced to file a lawsuit against him as a john doe for assaulting you and infringing your civil rights to assemble peacefully, and you might have to subpoena every Bechtel employee to come to court and look at the photo and state under oath whether they know who he is, and wouldn’t it be much easier and save Bechtel a lot of time and money if they’d just give you an answer? Because of course you know he didn’t do it under their orders, and so if they employed him and tell you who he is he’ll be solely responsible, and if they didn’t employ him they can just say so and it’ll all be over from their perspective.
..and the best part is, you had two friends with you as witnesses.
I’d wager money that the big bald dude was impersonating a cop to try and scare you away. Something that may work on kids and skateboarders. Unfortunately, you were far too smart for his ploy to work. And the photo of him.. fricking awesome. Love the expression on his face.
I really think you should change the title. This man is obviously not a police officer…..so…..this would not be police harassment.
Was that other security dude a very tan Gilbert Gottfried ?
You’re a whiny fucking cunt.
I walk by this area nearly every day. I think I’ll start taking pictures of 45 Fremont and 50 Beale with my cell phone daily….
I actually know the security guard pictured, but not the one impersonating himself as a police officer. I can vouch for the security guard, he’s actually a pretty nice guy. I doubt he’s employed by Bechtel, but the company who manages security for the building. He’s really, really nice and probably just freaked out – though he shouldn’t have – by what you were doing.
Blogger, please don’t do anything to the security guard if at all possible. I think I remember from conversations we’ve had, he’s got a wife battling cancer and a kid in college. So, yeah. Overreacting, sure? Just don’t go vigilante yourself, please.
I remember running in to this exact same issue in Toronto taking pictures of the Toronto Dominion Centre which at the time was the tallest building in Canada. An overzealous security guard assaulted me for taking unauthorized pictures from the sidewalk which of course is a public place. I went across the street to take pictures of the building and he actually came across the street to another company’s property to give me shit for taking pictures of the TD Centre.
This at the time was because of commercial copyright issues not because of terrorist security worries.
It always bothered me though that if you are going to build a monument that is going to catch attention from all over a city, how can you copyright it’s image if it’s in clear public site for miles?
Guys like this are too much and I started to go out of my way to take this type of picture just to try to get a reaction so that I could do the legal dance with these pinheads.
I’m like that though….a bit of a problem with pseudo-authority figures and their self importance in the world.
I’d get one of those electric stun gadgets. If he won’t show id, is wearing plain clothes, and grabs you, you should have the right to defend yourself. ZAP!
Anonymous said…
That’s why I always carry a concealed weapon with my permit of course
Yes… that’s the answer, someone grabs your arm so you should shoot them or start waiving a pistol around. That will make the streets safe (you tool)
I look at pictures of you and I can just imagine what your self-important asshole you must have behaved like during the whole thing. I doubt you were some Ghandi standing there being harassed for no reason. Give the guy some credit for not pounding your head in.
There is no ‘google street-view’ of 45 Fremontr hmmmmmm…..
Honestly, your last assumption was a rather poor one, it’s horrible PR for a company to just be involved in this, even if they had nothing to do with it, it’d be hard to say it would’ve happened if they weren’t there.
Screw that – ask the sexy mother out! Fat is the New Black.
This is exactly what lawsuits are for. I’m not in favor of suing people and companies on a whim, but when their employees assault you and infringe upon your rights, they really ought to pay a little bit. I don’t think a few thousand dollars would be out of line one bit.
Please don’t drop it because you got an apology letter. The fake rent-a-cop should be punished. Keep us up to date
I came across your story through Digg while taking a break from studying for the CA Bar Exam. You should consult an attorney for the possibility of a civil claim against both the security guard and the corporation that hired him. Under a civil claim, you’d be seeking monetary damages. You need to hit a corporation where it hurts… in the wallet. Otherwise, they’d just hire a new security guard, possibly encourage the same type of aggressive behavior, and not have to worry about being hit with any criminal liability b/c the criminal assault charges would be filed against the security guard only, and not the corporation. You may possibly have an assault, battery, and false imprisonment claims against the security guard and the corporation itself because the torts occurred during the course of his employment. As an avid photographer myself, I feel that the harrassment that you endured is just plain wrong. This is what the legal system is created for. You’re NOT one of those litigious leaches that tries to take advantage of the system for your own personal benefit. I’m not an attorney (yet) so can’t give you legal advice, but as a fellow indignant photographer I can advise you to seek legal help.
Keep up the great work.
If you care about your rights enough, DEFINITELY bring suit.
You’ve not only got a potential action for battery against the individual here, but also against Bechtel under vicarious liability, since he was acting as their employee during the incident. That’s probably why they tried to placate you with that letter, and why they’re not giving you his name.
Good luck.
impersonating a cop is a crime.
i doubt his fat neck will help him in jail.
I’ve come across your blog several times in the past, and every time I do you’re complaining about something. Did you ever think that maybe this guy was just trying to do his job? In this day and age who can blame him for being a little paranoid? Try to see his point of view, suppose someone really had planned on taking pictures for malicious purposes under the guise of a wacked-out liberal photographer.
Even if some people might be tired of stories like this they still need to be told. Not enough people get angry about situations like this where they have a legitimate reason to be angry. If more people took the time to report people like the “police officer” who mistreated you then we’d all be better off. So I thank you, for making stories like this public and reminding us all that if we don’t complain when we’ve got a valid complaint that we’re silently agreeing to being treated however they want to treat us.
Please file a lawsuit against these people! What they (he) did was illegal and things will only get worse if someone doesn’t stand up and fight back.
Don’t listen to the haters and ignorant fools who’ve posted here, Thomas.
Good luck!
Many Anonymous posters said that 1) this was your fault, 2) that this “brown shirt” was just doing his job, 3) Paranoia is a product of the times
4) Numerous and various abuses directed at you
I hope they achieve the state of being they are defending.
While I am hesitant to label you completely faultless from what I have read, I also would not hesitate to call you correct.
I sense here a range of responses, some much more optimistic about what rights we retain, some much more cynical than I am, but I can assure you this, If you choose to pursue your rights in this matter, the battle will be far more complicated than you can perceive at this time. Look at the letter you received from Bechtel Corporation, do you not see that they are already in the position of preparing a defense for a lawsuit?
Alisa suggested you put it behind you and enjoy your photography in spite of him, which as weak a response as it is, is probably the best response for you personally.
While it is fun to take on the “big guy” and win, I guess I am getting a little too cynical to believe there is much chance of actually winning anymore, have you noticed the way the the won/loss ratio for legal issues regarding personal freedom lately? Even if you have that one in a million situation where you can actually bring this to some fruation, I can guarantee you that Bechtel Corporation has a very – very vested interest in making it more costly to you than themselves, if for no other purpose than to discourage “nuisance lawsuits”.
Rags Mahone unfortunately covered a whole lot of the truth in his diatribe, but his tone and verbal assault on everyone only serves to alienate those who might otherwise be supportive.
Before you proceed with the many times suggested “Photo Swarm”, I heavily suggest you find out just Where Betchel’s and the property owner’s property ends, and confine your swarmers to public (i.e. City ) sidewalks (or street if the Brown Shirt was correct). I have seen at least three different opinions about where you do and don’t have rights to be in the comments, and I cannot stress enough that you get a legal opinion with more behind it than the guesses of those who both applaud and criticize you here.
I have found that letters up the political chain are sometimes helpful in dealing with corporate entities, but do not for a moment doubt that those you are writing to are not for the most part “owned” by the same corporate interests you are attacking. A courteous tone in such letters will probably get you farther than anything they see as assaultive, but over all, this is more effective for the purposes of embarrassing the corporation away from thug behavior than actually getting any real pressure applied to them.
I guess I will close with that, in spite of my attempt to get you to look at some of the realities of the battle you are considering, I offer my best wishes. I’ve got to run and buy a Powerball ticket, in the hopes of winning and buying a one-way ticket out of here.
-dandlion
A Real Cop could arrest you on grounds of disturbing the peace, and then resisting arrest, maybe disorderly conduct, and if you took a swing at him, assaulting a police officer.
It would be up to the court to decide if any such charges were valid, or toss out the case . . .
But real cops have the real power to arrest you should the situation turn difficult.
May you have more enjoyable photography outings in the future!
Try nature photography, the trees are beautiful in the summer…
Happening more and more often. We have created a seperate section at photographyvoter.com which you can see at:
http://photographyvoter.com/index.php?category=LegalIssues
Dear Thomas,
I am beatlelovergurl from Flickr…I am soo sad that this has happened to you. I am sorry that you are not at flickr anymore. People still are leaving comments! Something like this happened to a flickr photographer and his name on flickr is Joey Harrison. He was taking a photo of an open garage and the Toledo Ohip police gave him a very hard time about this…They even asked him for his Social Security number which is illegal BTW!
Please do not give up! Keep on Bechtel to give you info or pelase file a lawsuit. Thugs like that fake cop should not get away with this crap. Your story and Joey’s has scared me not to take photos….
Here is Joey’s story…
http://www.flickr.com/photos/joeyharrison/824399676/
Here is a site that gives info on photgrapher’s rights.
http://www.krages.com/phoright.htm
Everyone please read it! I would keep a copy on you at all times!
This is one of the most commonly overlooked tools in the photographer’s toolbox: The Cell Phone.
If I were you, as soon as that “police officer” touched me, I would have picked up that phone and called 911 (considering the ‘heated’ level of interaction taking place), and requested an officer come down to intervene.
If it were not so heated, I would have called the local police station (always handy to have the non-emergency number on-hand for questions such as the badge-showing requirement).
You are a patriot and when you defend yourself in a situation like this you are defending the liberty of the people who continue to live in our once fine nation. You are a good example of how we MUST respond when people abuse us and attempt to claim more authority than they actually have. Please keep updating us on this issue if there is more news!
Physical assault? Oh please. Hey, nail his ass to the wall for impersonating a cop, but don’t be such a crybaby.
Policeman acting out of his capicity. Federal offence. Quote the criminal code, then Do a notarial protest, register it in the courthouse, and in 30 days, lien and take all his personal assets!!!
Simple!
I took to installing the number of the police, for a number of areas, in my phone. I’ve found that calling them; or usually just the threat, is enough to change the situation.
Having someone say, “I’m going to call the police,” is becomes a changed situation when I reach into my pocket, and say, “Want to call the police? Here, use my phone.”
The other thing I do is carry a card, with my lawyers name on it. When they say I can’t shoot there, for legal reasons, I tell them to complain to him. To date, no one has followed through with that.
The only times I’ve been hassled, by cops, is when someone calls them. The first thing every undercover cop has done is get my attention (usually a tap on the shoulder) and then a flash of the badge. If I’ve asked to see the credential which supports the badge, take a number, etc., they’ve been willing.
And none of the cops have ever stopped me from shooting; just followed up on a complaint.
eh.
I believe he would have shown me a badge or a camera would have sticking out of his butt.
Next time, use your cell phone and call a the real POLICE… Get the azz arrested on the spot for impersonating a PO.
Hell, I take offense with the letter you got apologizing.
They ask that you check-in to take photos of a building from public property. You don’t have to do that and you shouldn’t do it.
Asking permission to take photographs from a public space is just taking one more step closer to them being able to say no.
I try not to even read stories like this because it just infuriates me.
I am a photojournalist and I run into volunteer police and fire officials all the time who try to remove me from places that civilians are allowed to be in.
They try to decide what we as American citizens are allowed to cover. I am an American first and a journalist second.
I agree with all of the other posters who say call the “real” police at once.
Bruce
Found this blog via searching for CC images to use on my blog, then read your clip on flikcr, blogged that, then found this. Having been ejected from a public place by a states attorney and county police officer (the real kind), and having my camera confiscated under threat of arrest, this sure hits home with me. But caution: don’t ask for permission to shoot in places where you are permitted by law to shoot. BTW: I have consulted a (real) attorney re: my situation and am told I have a strong case against both parties that I have described. Another BTW: there were dozens of other photographers at the event that did not suffer the same fate; I’d hazzard a guess and say I was singled out. Also, my 10-year-old son, who was forced to leave with me, is now terrified of police and thinks to this day he is not allowed to go to the park like all the other kids. I believe you should not only follow up in every way you have desribed so far, but consult a civil attorney as well. When you fight the good fight, you help other American Citizens protect themselves from authoritative misconduct as well.
Well I am on your side, your in the right. As for myself, I have a concealed pistol permit, and I always wear steel toe boots. Send the fat bastard to WA. You did well, filing the report. Don’t drop the ball Mall security is just as ugly
When I’m sure I’m right (as you were here) I pull out my phone and dial the local police number and don’t press dial and hand them a copy of the photographers rights document, I then tell them that tbh I’m just passing, made no particular effort to come here, but as I’m fully entitled to, if they dont back off and stop harassing me, I’ll be here every day for the next day doing a full series of complete architectural shots of the building, from every angle, for an entire year, as a self initiated artistic study…
If they get threatening just hint that while they know where you might be, you definetley know where they work..
…So, whatever became of this?
I’ve had similar instances, but none going so far as this and most stopped with a simple reminder that a threat is ‘assault’ and physical contact is ‘battery’. And it’s pretty difficult to find jobs, even security jobs, when you have become known by the law as being a legal liability to your employer.
That guy looks like Wilford Brimley in “The Firm”. Tom Cruise beat him to death in the movie.
looks like a lot of whining and complaints about nothing
I think you should sue him. Because he will do the same thing to others. He has to know that he is living in USA not in some third world country that he can asult others and can get away with it. We have an obligation to the socieity by protecting our rights. That is why we are enjoying the freedom in this country.
“concealed pistol permit” – omg are you serious?
@ Rags Mahone: National sins by a country don’t make internal crimes against its own citizens any less serious. To suggest that somehow TK is taking energy away from some larger-scale struggle is specious and venal. What are YOU doing for world peace, Omniscent One?
brilliant good story about the security guards i would have done the same followed it all up,i had a similar problem with a delusional pharmacy assistant who seemd to think she was qualified to give a clinical diagnosis like you i questioned her credentials she finally gave in and admitted she wasnt a qualified pharmacist with a degree excellent what you did though bet it brought him down a peg or two let me know the outcome if you can a good read!!!! kind regards mike
[...] can read more about this experience at Hawk’s web article PHOTOGRAPHING ARCHITECTURE IS STILL NOT A CRIME, POLICE HARRASMENT AT 45 FREMONT STREET. Apparently he is routinely harassed for taking public photographs in San Francisco, at least once [...]
As far as I know, it’s illegal to impersonate a police officer.
employee background check…
I have the same opinion as yours on this. What you said is true….
@ Ragsmahone
Get a clue and learn how to spell before you offer your overbloated ego inflated opinion.
“Rags Mahone says:
July 11, 2006 at 5:00 pm
Oh how the world must be laughing !”
Good, let’em laugh. Maybe we should stop funding foreign countries with our Taxpayers $$$
“So you were threatened, bullied and assaulted. Big deal. Tens of millions of people around the world are threatened and bullied by your country. However instead of then merely receiving a few bruises they are murdered, their homes destroyed, their children mutilated and their women raped and abused.”
Yep, That’s always America’s fault, right?
“All in the name of the same “ideal” of “freedom” that you only seem to take any interest in when it affects you personally.”
You see things only the way you want to, don’t you?
“It’s a shame Americans don’t/can’t “do” irony otherwise you would realise how ridiculous you seem to the CIVILISED world.”
Civilized is what you meant I presume. Which part of the world do you consider more Civil than that of the US?
“If you want sympathy then why not, just once, start questioning the climate of fear that your Government is creating not only abroad but, as you have now found out, in your own backyard.”
We do. It’s called exorcising our constitutional rights granted by our Constitution unlike countries like Iran, China or venezuela. Are those some of the Civilized world you spoke of?
“I agree that assault and impersonation of a police officer are crimes, but then again so are genocide, lying about WMDs, illegal wars, illegal sanctions, supporting dictators when it suits you, detaining innocent people without trial etc etc etc.”
And your country is oh so innocent? Those who are without sin, feel free to cast the first stone.
“Hopefully after you’ve all held hands and held a vigil on Fremont Street in support of your own rights you might make the trip out to Guantanamo Bay to see how a few bruises compare with the systematic beating and torture of people who don’t have the chance to voice their dissent or to prove their innocence.”
Those Terrorist maggots have it better in Gitmo than people in civillian prisons. Don’t even compare the conditions at Gitmo because “it” makes “you” look like an ass to the Civilized world.
“You may argue that as individuals you aren’t responsible for the vile, illegal actions of your Government …(most of which you aren’t aware of since your TV and Press censor so much of the news compared with countries outside the US)… but i would argue that you are being nothing more than whinging, ignorant hypocrites.”
Look in the mirror and get your own house in order before you give advice as to how to clean ours, OK bub? Speaking about whining (no “G” there buddy)hypocrites, I rest my case your Honor.
“You dish it out a whole lot worse to others, but can’t take it yourselves.”
Can you?
“Never mind … bullies always lose out in the end.”
Uh yeah, they do.