Cop Block Founder Sues Greenfield Police Following 2010 Arrest for Filming

Cop Block founder Ademo Freeman shared the following article on his Facebook page. Here’s what he wrote:

Here’s a write up about my pending lawsuit with the Greenfield (MA) Police Department. Some of these facts are not correct – as usual (best example is in the title, says the charges were dismissed but later states – correctly – that Pete and I were found not guilty at trial) – but I don’t really want to spend any more time on this issue. All the information about Pete Eyre’s and my case is documented in detail at http://copblock.org/greenfield

By Jonathan Adams at www.OpenMediaBoston.org 

BOSTON/South Boston – Founder of police-accountability group Cop Block Adam Mueller is suing the Town of Greenfield, Mass. and Greenfield police officers following his arrest for filming officers in 2010.

The lawsuit filed July 1 at US District Court in Boston, comes after felony charges of illegal wiretapping against him were dismissed at Greenfield District Court in July 2011. (more…)

Darryl Perry Found Guilty of Failure to ‘Register’ His Vehicle

Seven Keene activists accompanied Darryl W. Perry to Newport District Court for an 8:30 AM trial on the charge of failure to register his vehicle, RSA 261:40. Darryl was issued a summons on May 16, 2012 after being pulled over on South Main Street in Newport, NH by State Trooper Jason W. Hickox.

Hickox acted as prosecutor and sole witness for the “State of NH.” He testified that his reason for running Darryl’s plates was that they were Texas plates that looked “unusual.” He claimed that when he asked Darryl for license and registration, Darryl provided a ‘driver’s license’ as well as proof of ‘registration’ from Texas, which he alleges was expired. Hickox stated that Darryl was not violating the speed limit, driving unsafely, or driving in any manner hazardous to other drivers.

Hickox testified that Darryl agreed to abide by the man-made legislation supposedly valid in this particular region of land simply by driving within the boundaries commonly known as New Hampshire.

Darryl mentioned article 3 of the NH Constitution and referred to the surrender of certain natural rights in return for protection. He noted that police officers are not duty-bound to protect and without protection, the surrender of rights is void.

Darryl also cited article 10, the right of revolution, and stated that he never agreed to nor signed anything to fall under the arbitrary jurisdiction. He claimed to be part of the Shire Society and cited the fourth precept, stating,

FOURTH, explicit voluntary association is the only means by which binding obligations may be created, and claims based on association or relationships to which any party did not consent are empty and invalid;

Jason W. Hickox was unable to provide any physical evidence proving Darryl was guilty beyond a reasonable doubt of the claims against him.

After the prosecutor finished testifying as the only witness, Judge Cardello denied Darryl’s motions to dismiss and to receive exemption. The judge deemed Darryl “guilty” of the alleged “crime” of failing to pay ‘the state’ for permission to own and operate his own property and said Darryl must pay a $100 fine and a penalty assessment fee of 24%, or $24.

Darryl’s request to donate $124 to charity in lieu of the fine was denied, but request for community service was granted; Darryl will complete 12.5 hours of community service.

Court Personnel Especially Hostile at Ian Freeman’s Pre-Trial Hearing

Around 7:15 AM, eight individuals including myself left the Keene Activist Center in Keene, NH in order to make it to Palmer, MA District Court for a 9:00 AM pre-trial hearing for Ian Freeman of Free Talk Live. Four people in the Palmer area also made it to the hearing. Ian was arrested for filming inside of Palmer City Hall during an allegedly public tax sale on October 25, 2012. It was claimed that he was being “disorderly” by filming in the public space.

Upon entering the courthouse, the man operating the security theater (badge #245) asked what Cecelia (of Ladies in Keene) and I were there for, to which I responded, “A hearing.” After further questioning, I noted that it was a pre-trial hearing. Cecelia was told cell phones were not allowed in the courthouse, so she went to return it to the vehicle. Having emptied my pockets before entering the building, I walked through the metal detector and stepped off to the side to wait for my friends. Cecelia and Jay (who runs www.mail-to-jail.com) came through security, but Ian was questioned about why he had a tripod – as that was an indication that he had a camera. Ian shared the notice to record he had filed and convinced the man (badge #245) to hold his equipment at the desk until after the notice was reviewed by the judge; he was let through, without his recording equipment.
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Keene CopBlock

Last night, a group went out in a couple different vehicles to patrol Keene and keep tabs on the public officials who claim jurisdiction over it. On the police scanner, there was a report that the owner of a local establishment had called 911 after two customers left the property as they believed the driver may have been intoxicated. A description of the vehicle the customers were driving was reported, and officers were encouraged to track this vehicle down.

We were close by, and spotted the vehicle that was identified. The driver of the car I was in pulled up next to the vehicle at a stoplight and motioned for them to roll down the window. It was conveyed to them that police were on the lookout for them and that it may be an intelligent idea to pull into a parking lot and get out of the vehicle. The driver took the suggestion, and we stopped to see if we could be of assistance. At this time, we heard dispatch tell all units to be on the lookout. One of the passengers in the truck I was in, Clyde, offered to drive the vehicle home for the two in the car.

As there were four of us in the CopBlock truck, we split up. Ademo accompanied the driver of the other vehicle while I stayed with Pete. The passenger of the vehicle rode with Pete and I, while the previous driver stayed with their vehicle. They, and their vehicle, were safely delivered home, very appreciative and they gave a donation to cover gas. In addition to helping a couple individuals in need of a hand to guarantee a safe arrival home, we prevented the Keene Police from forcefully taking an individual to a cage where he would be held at taxpayers’ expense although nobody had been harmed, stealing the vehicle, and demanding ransom for the individual’s freedom and/or vehicle.

Please tell me again, naysayers, about how CopBlocking is not helpful or how CopBlockers’ goal is simply to instigate?

We Shall Meet Again…

The following post was written by Ademo Freeman, from Valley Street Jail in Manchester, NH.

I wrote, prior to my wiretapping trial, a thank-you and semi-prediction of the outcome. Since then, I haven’t addressed the outcome publicly because I was tired of the trial talk and focused on doing my time. I’m not going to say much more than I did in my previous letter/blog post. The outcome of the trial is what it is and I knew the risk of my actions long before the verdict. I’m proud of myself for refusing the plea deal, speaking the truth, and avoiding the majority of the courtroom shenanigans. I hope others will follow my lead by taking the direct approach in courtrooms, even though I wasn’t “successful.” At some point, logic will prevail if everyone is speaking openly and honestly, especially when charges with victimless crimes and ones exposing government abuse – like mine.  The conclusion of my wiretapping saga now lies in the hands of Brandon Ross who has decided to try the legal route in freeing me from the State’s grasp.

I’d like to again thank everyone who has helped share my story, support CopBlock.org‘s mission and contributed to my jail fund, commissary and/or appeal. Thank-you very much, I couldn’t do it without the support y’all have provided.

I guess the remaining question many, including myself, have is, “What’s next?” That answer depends on many things. Of the course the outcome of my appeal or other attempts of Brandon’s to free me from the 5 years of “good behavior” play a factor in what I’ll do after my release. Regardless, I know I’ll never go back to being an obedient servant of the state’s. Although jail as been an emotional roller coaster for me, as always, and may lead to a short vacation from public or high profiled activism like I’ve done in the past; I’ve recently started working on some video scripts and other ideas for Copblock/activism once freed, hopefully on or by October 11th.

Until then, I’ll continue my jail routine of reading, writing and working out, with the occasional outreach opportunity in between. And though many questions are still unanswered, know that we shall meet again, either doing activism or “in the place where there is no darkness.” (Reference to 1984)

Much love,

Ademo