The now infamous camera ban in the 2nd floor lobby of the Keene city hall has expanded again. OTN camera crews are attacked by Keene District Court Security with a metal door.
All this happens right in front of a Keene policewoman who refuses to even take a report, much less arrest the out of control court employee. Plans for a massive camera civil disobedience event are in the works. How much longer can this behavior go on, and how do you feel knowing you pay them to treat you this way?
I would like to add, this video quotes laws that I do not personally believe in. The purpose of this video (along with our requests to “arrest that man” in the video) are used rhetorically to shed light on the hypocrisy of “government law”. I think it was made profoundly clear the government only serves to protect itself, even at the expense of the safety of “the people”.
I do not advocate the use of force against another for non-violent acts; however, I feel defensive restraint is acceptable to prevent further harm. In this case, I believe measures should be taken to see that Sam receives restitution, and the court security officer in question should be removed from his position. This is not the first time this man has used violence for his own amusement, and I fear it won’t be the last. Someone has told him he is allowed to use physical violence against his fellow human beings without recourse, and he seems to take pleasure in that. He has become a danger and should have been removed from his position AND the building immediately following this incident.
At the very least, he should be ashamed.
I think Mr. Dehotman should resign.
Teamsters or not, Lance needs to fire him if he refuses to go voluntarily.
And what are the names of the cops who refused talk to the victims of Dehotman's assault? How badly does a liberty activist have to be hurt before it becomes a crime?
Pretty embarrassing and juvenile behavior from the security officer.
The security guy didn't even pretend that you matter, or that he might be held accountable for any transgressions. He couldn't keep from laughing when asking "Who are you?", as though that were relevant. He didn't care whether you could be right enough to actually listen to you. He laughed when you asked a cop to do his job, because he is one of them, and you're nothing. This footage speaks for itself. There is no excuse for the way these people behaved, and anyone who claims to think otherwise is either dishonest, incompetent, or completely unreasonable. Thanks guys. Keep… Read more »
Well we all know the footage speaks for itself.
The question is, what do you do next? Its obvious the state is preventing any accountability for violence and avoiding justice for the members of their club. They arnt going to participate in arrests or help you in the courts, so whats next?
So what can you do? Where is the recourse?
This criminal mischief committed by the security guy was very blatant.
RSA 627:5, the state aggression law, does not allow these people to destroy something.
HighLine:
Just out of curiosity, if you were still an officer, amd this occurred in front of you (in your town), what would actions could have been taken?
I think that the police would have an excellent case against this guy for criminal mischief and simple assault. The simple assault charge would have an enhanced penalty as the assault was committed by someone who is considered a "law enforcement officer" who was on-duty. The enhanced penalty goes to anyone who is assaulting an on-duty LEO or who is an on-duty LEO doing the assaulting. As this court security guy was using force neither to 1) make an arrest or 2) prevent an escape he was not authorized by 627:5 to use the force. He knew that the door… Read more »
The official oppression law is rather ambiguous and I think that it could easily be declared unconstitutional as it does not clearly define what conduct is illegal..
Ok. But, as a side note, I was standing far enough away from the door for it to open. It was only because sam was hit so hard that his camera struck me, and I fell towards the wall, then got smashed behind the door. So, I was not 'blocking the way', but stilll was effected by the security officer's use of force.
I apologize, I knew that.
Even if everyone was physically blocking the door, absent an emergency, it did not justify him smashing the door into Sam.
He should have opened it slowly and warned that blocking the door could result in an arrest…… Not violently assaulting someone whom he dislikes.
If a private citizen did this, it would be fairly open and shut. But since he's a government employee he'll walk.
I don't know Dan. If the NH Attorney General Public Integrity Unit got involved this guy may be facing charges.
As somebody who's worked in two Attorney General's Offices, I say that there is no chance they'll throw an officer of the court under the bus over a minor property issue. They protect their own. If the guy shot Sam then it would be a toss up. Even if there was a trial, you'd still have the whole qualified immunity thing to get through, which would be a tough case in itself since he was acting in his official capacity, however inappropriately. The whole system is set up so that there's nothing you can do to these people unless they… Read more »
Real tough guy.
It would be interesting to see the change in humanity, and professionalism, if the mayor, or sheriff, were to accompany the press to one these court lobbies.
I guess the lesson from the cops here is that they will overlook assult (which is a real crime), but not camera violations (which is not a crime). Seems a bit backwards and typical.
Their job is to protect the government and their own jobs, not to protect the people.
Could the camera crew have placed the court officer under citizen's arrest? He clearly assaulted them, damaged their property, violated their rights and antagonized them. I even wanted to hit him at one point.
Will the camera crew file a lawsuit against him and the police who neglected to do anything? If they tried to detain him, they would most certainly be arrested for assault. This kind of shit makes me pissed.
Under state law no. A citizens arrest has to be for a felony.