LOUISVILLE, Ky.
A Louisville man filming a police situation he wasn't involved with ended up being hit by an officer and put in handcuffs.
Joseph Bennett was driving by the McDonald's off Blankenbaker Parkway in Jeffersontown on Tuesday when he noticed a large police situation.
"Given the current climate that we live in, I was inclined to pull over, to observe as a citizen," Bennett said. "That's what we should do."
Standing across the parking lot, Bennett decided to start a Facebook Live video.
"I even said, 'This is going to be the most boring live video ever,'" he said. "And to my horror, I found myself quickly involved."
After a few minutes Jeffersontown police officers approached Bennett. An officer asked for Bennett's ID and said it was because he was "filming a crime scene investigation" and Bennett was "involved." After Bennett refused to show his ID, stating he was simply filming in public, things escalated within seconds.
Bennett said he was hit by an officer and taken to the ground.
"When he asked for my ID and I said, 'I refuse,' you should have seen the look on his face," Bennett said. "Just anger as that fist is coming up, and he hits me with a left hook ... It blacked my entire eye top to bottom."
Bennett was handcuffed and cited for menacing and resisting arrest.
Lt. Col. Steve Schmidt, Jeffersontown Police's assistant chief, said there was a check fraud investigation at a bank across the street. Officers were detaining two people from Evansville, Indiana, and a person from Atlanta "in connection with a multi-state fraudulent check cashing scheme involving various Kentucky banks in several cities," Jeffersontown Mayor Bill Dieruf said in a statement Saturday.
According to Dieruf, at least one witness at the scene identified Bennett to officers as someone who was possibly involved, and that's why they approached.
Bennett was not involved, and Schmidt said he is not a suspect.
As of Saturday, Dieruf said Bennett has not filed a formal complaint, but an internal investigation into what happened is underway.
"I fully support this decision, as well as the investigation," Dieruf said in the statement. "Chief Sanders has assured me that all documents related to the internal investigation will be released upon its conclusion. I will be reaching out to Mr. Bennett in the very near future to assure him that we are taking this incident with all seriousness, and to restore faith in the City."
Bennett said some people have implied he should have just cooperated with the officers, but he feels he did nothing wrong.
"Some folks will say, 'Why don't you just show your ID?'" he said. "We have personal rights in this nation. I have personal rights against unfair searches and seizures."
Bennett said he did not pull over and start filming for attention and never imagined he would be in the position he is now. But he said he wants to use his voice to send a message about what happened.
"Civil servants need to remember their oath, to protect and to serve," he said. "What happened here is a minor of taste of when that fails to happen. That's not protecting. That's not serving."
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| https://www.facebook.com/JeffersontownPolice/ |
Mr. Bennett sue the police department sue the city and the county who hired those goons, you have a great case !!!
ReplyDeleteI agree 100%....SUE...or they will do the same to someone else. And why hasn't a complaint been filed on them?
DeleteThe part about they pointed you out as part of it ? I bet that’s not on any body cam or statements , if it’s in the statement then it’s cause the cops told them to , they just don’t like being held accountable , either way they screwed up big time so go for the towns bank balance let the Mayor explain it to the people why his thugs are costing far more than their worth , sue them !!!.
ReplyDeleteI hope he sues the hell out of the cops
ReplyDeleteThese are exactly the kind of "police" that need to be out of a job! Guys like these get people killed! They have no business having authority over anyone! Tax payer funded terrorists! All of the people that have YouTube channels dealing with this subject need to include the violating cop's name, police department's contact information, the police chief's name, DA for the county name and contact information, the mayor and the city council member's names and contact information. They need to be deluged with letters, emails and phone calls calling for the firing of the offending officer and an investigation into the police department. This information should be pinned to the top of the comment list.
ReplyDeleteFYI...youtube channels don't post names, phone numbers, and other contact information because the youtube channels get sued or criminally charged for harassment. Even when they win, it is very expensive. The police get to use tax payer money to finance their legal bills. So when you see a youtuber post, "do not call the Jeffersontown Police station" he means do not call. Get it!
DeleteYoutube is protected under section 230 of the communications act. So they can't be sued for what others post
DeleteVery good job Mr. Bennett! You took that punch for all freedom loving Americans. I thank you. We need police, but not this police officer. Recording the police during performance of their duty, is a constitutionally protected activity, and in encouraged by the Supreme Court of the U.S. Good cops are proud of what they do and want to be recorded. Bad cops don't want to be recorded because it will expose their wrong doing. President elect Biden was elected on a policy to de-fund the police. De-funding this officer's salary is a good place to start.
ReplyDeleteClear case of a bully cop treading on a citizen's rights as protected by the constitution, Sue the town, sue the PD, sue the officer for bodily harm. One day when townships realize they are wasting tons of money on bad cops, maybe they will fire the bad and educate the good ones left, if any.
Deletedefund the police now
ReplyDeleteI'm an Deputy Sheriff in another State. This action makes a bad name for our profession. That asst Chief coming out with that narrative shows he is trying to cover for something. That officer should be removed from the streets and retrained or punished. We do not treat people that way.
ReplyDeleteYou do see the issue here right? Even though you are 100% correct is what you are saying you are afraid to put your name to the post and instead post anonymously. Who you are afraid of is not the public, just like the public you are afraid of your fellow officers.
DeleteYou would think that after ALL the standing law protecting video recording in the public arena and the countless out of court settlement these room temperature public employee's would get the message: WELL THEY DON"T:https://www.nj.com/gloucester-county/2015/06/man_gets_35k_after_cops_thought_his_cracker_crumbs_were_crack.html
ReplyDeletewhat did he say?
ReplyDelete"You, should not be afraid to exercise your rights"
and yet here we are, sad.
UPDATE??
ReplyDeleteAmen
ReplyDelete