Gee, I wonder why police don't want citizens to video them

Las Vegas-based videographer Mitchell Crooks was beaten and falsely arrested by Las Vegas police officer Derek Colling while filming a burglary arrest taking place across the street from his house. The entire sorry affair was recorded by Crooks’ brand new, $3,500 camera, which kept rolling throughout the arrest.

Shortly after the Las Vegas Review-Journal reported on Crooks’ story, the Clark County district attorney’s office dropped the “battery on a police officer” and “obstruction of justice” charges Colling brought against him. “I asked for a more definite description of the battery because battery requires a violent touching,” Chief Deputy District Attorney Christopher Laurent said.

According to ACLU attorney Allen Lichtenstein, “it’s perfectly legal to film officers as long as it does not interfere in their investigation.” Concerning Colling’s trespassing claims, Lichtenstein points out that a trespassing complaint can only be made by a property owner. “Even if the officer didn’t think he lived there, that doesn’t mean he didn’t have permission to be there,” Lichtenstein told the Review-Journal.

The Metropolitan Police Department announced that an internal investigation into the incident has been launched, but Clark County Sheriff Doug Gillespie declined further comment.