Sheriffs Scour Keene for NH Free Press Publisher Russell Kanning

July 23, 2009 by Ian
Filed under: Copwatch, Free Press, Issues, Police, Thuggery, Video

Cheshire sheriffs (uniformed men with guns and tazers) are searching the streets of Keene for the peaceful NH Free Press publisher, Russell Kanning. Below you’ll see video that Lauren Canario captured of her husband Jim Johnson successfully refusing to provide ID when asked:

Comments

32 Comments on Sheriffs Scour Keene for NH Free Press Publisher Russell Kanning

Slim on Thu, 23rd Jul 2009 2:44 pm

That cop did a nice parking job. Glad to see them impeding the flow of traffic on what appears to be a busy street by not parking correctly.

Larry The Dwarf on Thu, 23rd Jul 2009 3:03 pm

I believe those were probably just deputies, not the actual sheriff. The sheriff probably spends most of his time behind a desk.

And that cop’s mustache makes him look absolutely ridiculous.

SamIam on Thu, 23rd Jul 2009 3:22 pm

Great job with the whole interaction Jim.

Puke on Thu, 23rd Jul 2009 4:38 pm

I wonder if that pig was stopping every person with a beard?

Peacemaker/aka Markus on Thu, 23rd Jul 2009 6:06 pm

I second Sam’s comment – Jim – you did a masterful job of dealing with the blunt end of government.

nick on Thu, 23rd Jul 2009 7:17 pm

This was awesome.

“You are Russell Kanning are you not?” Haha

I would not have engaged the officer in further conversation besides “Am I free to go?” Rather than explain to him how I can “Prove I’m not Russell Kanning.”

Though now that they point it out, I really do see the resemblance.

Meguira Antijingoist on Thu, 23rd Jul 2009 8:54 pm

Jim, you and Lauren are my HEROES! I hope that some day I may have guts like that.

David on Thu, 23rd Jul 2009 9:38 pm

They sure put a lot of energy into finding out where Russell is. This is the first time they misidentified someone as him, but Lt. Maxfield has asked if Russell was in town, and at least one other time another cop asked as well. I really wish they would go after real criminals, then they would actually have a real reason to justify getting more police officers that they want.

Dan Steward on Thu, 23rd Jul 2009 10:00 pm

When I first looked at the video I thought, now why doesn’t he ask Mr. Cop if he is “free to leave”? After I pondered that a few seconds it occurred to me that Jim was having a good time at Deputy Cellphone’s expense. Why move on when you can chip away at the power and legitimacy of some jackboot and have a blast while you were doing it.

I’ve always liked Jim & Lauren’s activism because they get both the humor and necessity of poking fun at the system.

It was absolutely incredible that it was being recorded and the armed gendarme was at a loss. He couldn’t even gripe about having a camera pointed at him, he was that much taken aback.

“He don’t wanna do the thing I asked him to do that they taught me in cop school, what do I do now boss?” He likely cried into his cell phone.

What was also good was the learning experience that was gained. I wonder if lawman knew he was also educating freedom loving people on just what type of tactics cops use to con people into coughing up their ID as Jim was telling him in his own way that Officer Unfriendly’s “cop mind tricks don’t work on me.”

You won Jim and got great footage of it!

Renniks on Thu, 23rd Jul 2009 10:17 pm

I am just curious as to why they were looking for Russell in the first place? What horrible evil thing did this man do now?

Meguira Antijingoist on Thu, 23rd Jul 2009 10:35 pm

I heard this morning that they called the house looking for Russell and told Lauren they wanted a copy of the video. I think that they are now getting to the point where they realize that we know we don’t need to show our IDs. So they are going to use the video to either train their peons what to do when a situation like that comes up… or they don’t believe that he isn’t Russell.

Paul on Thu, 23rd Jul 2009 10:52 pm

What, they don’t have computers at the KPD, only camcorders?

Also, I hope she didn’t give it to them — they’d need a warrant to even be legal, would they not?

Meguira Antijingoist on Fri, 24th Jul 2009 12:05 am

No. She didn’t. Lauren is a lot smarter than that. ^_^ Yep… my heroes.

And BTW… I was kidding about the using it for training… I really don’t think that they are smart enough for that. You saw that bacon (as my husband and I like to call them), he was soooo CLUELESS as to how to handle that.

Anon on Fri, 24th Jul 2009 1:16 am

i don’t get it.

thinkliberty on Fri, 24th Jul 2009 1:44 am

I liked how he rolled up his window to talk on his cell phone.

Too funny.

Puke on Fri, 24th Jul 2009 5:21 am

would have been hilarious if the cop had caused an accident parking his dumb-ass there like that.

Abbie on Fri, 24th Jul 2009 8:50 am

Puke: only if Noone was hurt.

Gimee on Fri, 24th Jul 2009 10:15 am

I believe Russel is accused of not paying child support.
If so, this boils down to:
A) If you have child/ren and are separated from them
Then,
B) The *other* owner of the child/ren can gain a contract on you,
Then
C) Use the state to enslave you into working to pay them money
or if you refuse:
D) Enslave you in the criminal prison farm system, which is usually run by contractors.

nick on Fri, 24th Jul 2009 11:39 am

As for why they want Russell:

I’m not sure if he is behind on child support again. I sure hope he’s doing his best in that regard. But he also never completed some community service he was sentenced to over a driving violation.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fcE8PZ6xAzU

KDus on Fri, 24th Jul 2009 12:39 pm

I didn’t hear any of what I’d call “refusing”, to show ID. He simply asserted his rights and reminded them of their rules. I don’t think he was ever ordered to show ID.

AnAmazedReader on Fri, 24th Jul 2009 4:32 pm

Why wouldn’t a person want to financially support his child or children?

Mike Barskey on Fri, 24th Jul 2009 4:40 pm

@AnAmazedReader: Your question implies a condition. Whether or not you’re referring to Russell, this assumed condition is a straw man. A man might be paying everything he is capable of earning to his wife for the purpose of taking care of his children, but the court may have demanded a greater amount (in fact, this often happens). Thus, he might *want* to financially take care of his children, and *be* taking the best financial care of his children that he possibly can, and *still* be in trouble with the government for “not paying child support.”

(Russell Kanning's doppleganger) on Fri, 24th Jul 2009 4:48 pm

I wonder how long it’ll be before the Keene PD will start hosting curbside games of ‘To Tell The Truth’? They would’ve needed 2 more ‘contestants’ though…

Alan on Fri, 24th Jul 2009 6:44 pm

I hope the cops manage to catch that Russell Canning, sounds like he’s quite the villain…

http://freekeene.com/2008/08/21/russell-kanning-avoids-jail/

Perhaps Jim should think about colouring his hair, as Russel is now sporting similar ~~blond~~ gray beard and the cops might now have an updated photo.

Maybe if Canning wasn’t such a trouble maker he could fight for custody of his children and pay for then for real.

Dr. Q on Sat, 25th Jul 2009 6:12 pm

And when I refused to show ID, I was kidnapped.

Curt Springer on Sat, 25th Jul 2009 9:16 pm

Dr. Q,
Did they drop any or all of the charges?

Research101 on Sat, 25th Jul 2009 9:28 pm

Excellent job Jim. love it!!! I love your relaxed and amused demeanor.

Dr. Q on Tue, 28th Jul 2009 11:39 am

Yes, they’ve since dropped the charges.

Russell Kanning on Wed, 29th Jul 2009 5:13 am

they want to arrest me, so they can take me to 1 or 2 courts and talk with me
the state of nh wants about 1500 a month from me (and 150,000 in back money) to send to the state of california
the state of california probably wants less money each month from me and probably $170,000 in old money … but they would never throw me in jail, because there is no room