To start the woman videographing is a citizen journalist with an extensive portfolio of news linked below.
The police officer lies outright several times and then assaults her and steals her camera/phone. She is livestreaming so there was an audience. Legally if they want to see the video they need a subpena no ifs, ands, or buts. If the camera is actively being used in the commission of a crime then it is a different story but I for the life of me can not even fathom what using a camera in a crime would entail. But the video below obviously was not it.
On the recording, you can hear the officer explain that he needs to see the video to check if Medina recorded any evidence of a crime. He then goes on to tell Medina that it's not a choice, she has to show it to him.
The two continue to argue and Medina, who was streaming the video online, tells the officer to either watch the stream or get a subpoena.
Ultimately, in the end, the officer just grabs it.
"He grabbed my arm and twisted it, and he dug his hand into mine, leaving marks," said Medina. "He held my arm out, and I just froze."
Police say they were within their rights to seize the phone because the video it captured was evidence in their case against the suspect.
"The officer has the legal right to ask for the video because there's perishable evidence there, " said Lt. Claudio Grandjean with the Gresham Police Department.
"That's evidence of a crime potentially, but we don't know until we see video. We have to protect evidence that could potentially be destroyed."
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