>>http://www.masslive.com/news/index.ssf/2011/08/videographer_of_alleged_melvin.html
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>As I expected, this is the result of a "nanny" state's legislative efforts. If this had happened in a state where people have more freedom, like Tennessee, for instance, only the officers would have problems. You hate to see injustice, but sometimes it takes that for the people to wake up. Things that occur in the public arena should be fair game.

True. I really don't understand the logic behind it. I mean if the police in an area don't want to be filmed while in public then there seems to be only one conclusion you can come to - they don't want to be filmed because they're doing something they shouldn't. You'd think they'd welcome the documentation of events for evidence to use later. This above example is troubling because the cop who wants to bust the guy didn't do so until AFTER he'd got into trouble for what was filmed - which is obviously retaliation. Seeing how everyone has a cell phone with a camera that shoots video now I think these "nanny" state legislators need to re-evaluate their position. If I saw a cop (or anyone else) beating up someone like that I would either a) try to help or b) start taking video ...and I wouldn't give a rats-ass if it was legal or not.