Man arrested for filming police, phone said to be a weapon

[IDemo]

A San Diego man was arrested for using his phone to take video of a citation being issued to him after a police officer said phones "can be converted to weapons," and the man refused to surrender the device.

The incident has drawn national attention from the National Press Photographers Association, which has filed a protest with city officials, and the San Diego Police Department says it is now investigating the altercation.

Last Saturday, Adam Pringle and some friends were being cited for smoking cigarettes on a beach boardwalk (against the law in San Diego), and Pringle decided to record the officer's actions using the camera on his phone. After about a minute of filming, the officer asked Pringle to put the phone away. When Pringle said it was his right to record the encounter, the officer said that phones could be converted to weapons, and insisted he put it away or hand it over. When Pringle refused, the officer then forcibly took it and arrested Pringle for obstruction of justice.
A still from a video of San Diego police officer asking Adam Pringle to surrender his phone.

In a second video shot by Pringle's friends, the officer explained that they are trained to consider phones as possible weapons, citing the existence of stun guns and .22 handguns made to look like phones.

http://www.nbcnews.com/technology/gadgetbox/man-arrested-filming-police-phone-said-be-weapon-1C9314434

[rocktivity]

1. And don't forget wallets...

rocktivity

[TeamPooka]

2. 1984 time again.

[TroglodyteScholar]

13. That was my very first thought, too.

Phone as weapon? Double-plus-ungood.

[ThoughtCriminal]

3. Now pay attention double-oh-seven...

this device appears to be an iPhone, but when you dial 0-0-7 and press the pound key...

[Jenoch]

4. The most amazing thing that happened

during this incident is that a cellular telephone was used to 'film' something.

[IDemo]

10. Kodaphone

You give us those nice bright colors.

[hootinholler]

15. Mama don't take my Kodaphone awaaaayyyy

Well played!

[Auggie]

5. I see two jerks. And the jerk with the badge won ...

as usually happens.

[Logical]

8. How was the camera guy a jerk? Because he annoyed the cowardly cop? n-t

[Auggie]

23. Smoking in a non-smoking area

[Logical]

24. Lol, yes, that is much worse than beating someone for no reason! n-t

[Auggie]

25. I dislike cops who overstep their authority as much as anyone ...

but the fact is, except in rare cases, they're always going to win.

Copping an attitude with one who has asked you to respond in a certain way is very fool-hearty, no matter how wrong the civil rights violation seems.

[MindPilot]

6. Converted?

Does an iGlock mutitask? Can it be a fone and a phirearm simultaneously? Is it bigger on the inside?

Good grief, Charlie Brown...

[UnrepentantLiberal]

9. Cell Phone Gun Discovered in Naples Mafia Raid

The pictured weapon above is a cellphone pistol that was discovered by police in a police operation against the Gionta crime family. The gun holds four .22 caliber rounds, and is loaded by sliding the keypad to the side. The barrel is concealed inside the stubby antenna and it is fired by pressing a button on the keypad. A 28-year-old man was arrested in the raid, other gang members escaped.




More: http://www.uberreview.com/2008/11/cell-phone-gun-discovered-in-naples-mafia-raid.htm

[TroglodyteScholar]

14. Yea, because that looks so much like a modern mobile device.

Jesus, when was that designed, 1993?

No phone on the market today, and certainly not one capable of shooting video, looks a good goddamn like what you've posted.

P.S. Funny that cops intentionally represent themselves as idiots (i.e. too fucking dumb to tell that a smart phone isn't a gun) to justify their abusive actions against citizens. They should really give themselves a little credit.

[frylock]

16. oh yeah, you can get those anywhere..

seen em at walmart.

[Vinnie From Indy]

22. Jeebus!

Where's the camera?

[nadinbrzezinski]

11. I know for a fact the cop lied.

They are not taught that in the academy. But after Occupy they have become increasingly nervous

[Iggo]

12. Yay, Cops!

They're the best!

[xtraxritical]

17. Why couldn't these kids just accept the citation for smoking without being jerks?

[nadinbrzezinski]

18. What? Filming an officer is being a jerk?

It's protected under law.

[X_Digger]

19. I hope that's sarcasm. n/t

[Logical]

20. Why can't cops not be assholes? n-t

[Purplehazed]

21. Comes with the uniform

[beevul]

26. Since when does filming them, like they film you with their dashcams, make one a jerk?

You can not be serious.

[xtraxritical]

27. All they had to do was put out the cigarette, stand there, accept the citation

and say nothing, they knew they were in the wrong.

[CBGLuthier]

28. why couldn't the cop give them the citation and go on his business

without being a jerk and someone who violates the law and civil rights?

Too many here would gladly march into the boxcars if a cop told them too.