Cops Bust Woman for Recording Them From Her Yard

Even though that action is legal in New York state
By Evann Gastaldo,  Newser Staff
Posted Jun 23, 2011 12:39 PM CDT
Updated Jun 26, 2011 11:28 AM CDT

A 28-year-old woman was arrested in upstate New York for the vile crime of videotaping cops from her own front yard. Emily Good started recording officers as they questioned a man and searched his car around 10pm on May 12—an action that, the Huffington Post notes, is perfectly legal. Good refused Officer Mario Masic's multiple orders to go inside her house and was subsequently arrested on a misdemeanor charge of obstructing governmental administration. She will appear in court Monday, the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle reports.

Throughout the confrontation, Good insisted she was within her rights, while Masic repeatedly told her he didn't feel safe with her behind him and ordered her to go inside. Masic also implied that she had made unspecified anti-police comments before the recording began, but witnesses say that's not true. A friend and witness, who posted his account on Indymedia, claims they were in the process of returning to the porch when Masic arrested Good; he adds that they were recording an "illegal detention and search" and that the man who was stopped was eventually released with no ticket. Good's lawyer is calling for the charges to be dismissed, saying, "it strains credibility to argue that her presence 10-15 feet away from the investigation interfered in any way." (More arrest stories.)

Get the news faster.
Tap to install our app.
X
Install the Newser News app
in two easy steps:
1. Tap in your navigation bar.
2. Tap to Add to Home Screen.

X