The Two Minute CopBlock Featuring Cop Block Hernando

On September 1st, 2014, Michael Mathieu was stopped by a police officer while on his way to pick up his friend, who was also being hassled by the police for being outside after dark. Seriously, I can’t make this stuff up. Obviously the friend that called Michael for assistance knew he was able to handle himself with the police and this interaction would be no different. The passenger records the interaction between Michael and the officer which ends quickly with a CopBlock, see for yourself.

TWO MINUTE COPBLOCK

It appears to me that this officer was on a textbook fishing expedition from the start. For those who haven’t heard the term “fishing expedition” in regards to police, it’s where the police use a lame excuse to stop you. During that stop, they attempt to find something else, the smell of alcohol or weed, to further the stop with hopes of getting something more serious on you to charge you with. As you may have noticed, it didn’t go that way because Michael knew the importance of answering questions with questions and the power of the video camera. Instead, the officer was left with no choice, but to cut him loose.

This is not the first time Michael has filmed the police, nor is it the first time he’s been blogged about at CopBlock.org. A little over a week ago, CopBlock.org Contributor, DEO, posted about him “Flipping Off Cops.” In that post, Michael was issued a no trespassing order for flipping off a cop inside a gas station. After checking out his YouTube Channel I found a few more videos of him, and his friends, in action. In the first video, posted below, Michael and his friends are stopped by police who are ‘assisting’ another agency in a robbery – yet, the cops are just rude during the interaction. In the second video, Michael seems to have caught two undercover cops, who take special interest in his filming.

Flex Your Rights

Cops Hate Cameras

Though some might say that Michael and his friends are obnoxious punks who look for trouble, I’d say that his actions were reasonable for each video. In the “Two Minute CopBlock” Michael answers questions with questions, remains calm and ends the interaction quickly. In the “Flex Your Rights” video everyone in the car is a bit worked up, but the situation was raised to that level by the police, IMO. Michael and his friends are having their rights violated, while the cops are passive aggressive about it, so it’s understandable that everyone is on edge. In the “Cops Hate Cameras” video, Michael simply gets the footage he desires, declines to speak with the officers, and moves on politely.

All of these videos are great examples of how to film the police and I applaud Michael for his professionalism while ensuring that “Badges Don’t Grant Extra Rights.” Visit the CopBlock.org Resources page to expand your knowledge, get CopBlock material, connect with a local CopBlock group and much, much more.

The Two Minute CopBlock Featuring Cop Block Hernando is a post from Cop Block – Badges Don’t Grant Extra Rights