Cell Phone Video Shows Officer Throwing Down Bystander Videotaping Traffic Stop
29-Year-Old Handcuffed, Then Allowed To Leave
POSTED: Thursday, September 6, 2007
UPDATED: 10:01 am EDT September 7,
2007
ORLANDO, Fla. -- Cell phone video of an Orlando officer throwing a bystander to the ground after the man was noticed videotaping a traffic stop has prompted accusations of police brutality.
IMAGES: Cell Phone Video
Orlando police are investigating why Josh Leclair, 29, was handcuffed and forced to the ground by an officer this week, Local 6 has learned.Leclair said he was on his way to a friend's house at about 1 a.m. when he noticed a police officer arresting a suspected drunken driver with his weapon drawn.Leclair said he had a camera and began videotaping the incident until the officer noticed him.Leclair's friend Rick Weedamen's cell phone camera videotaped the officer running over to Leclair and then forcing him to the ground and handcuffing him.Police eventually removed the handcuffs and Leclair was allowed to leave.Leclair, who is a member of the Cop Watch group, said police initially appeared to be acting lawfully during the traffic stop until they turned their attention to him."My video could have been used as an asset to their actual investigation until I was detained," Leclair said during a news conference Thursday.The Cop Watch group has watched the video and claims the incident may be indicative of a bigger problem with police behavior."Where there have been threats made against Cop Watch when Cop Watch was out doing what they have every Constitutional right to do -- simply videotape law enforcement in action," Cop Watch representative George Crossley said.Leclair has filed an official complaint with the Orlando Police Department and he said another complaint will likely be filed with the U.S. Justice Department over a civil rights violation.Watch Local 6 News for more on this story.
IMAGES: Cell Phone Video Orlando police are investigating why Josh Leclair, 29, was handcuffed and forced to the ground by an officer this week, Local 6 has learned.Leclair said he was on his way to a friend's house at about 1 a.m. when he noticed a police officer arresting a suspected drunken driver with his weapon drawn.Leclair said he had a camera and began videotaping the incident until the officer noticed him.Leclair's friend Rick Weedamen's cell phone camera videotaped the officer running over to Leclair and then forcing him to the ground and handcuffing him.Police eventually removed the handcuffs and Leclair was allowed to leave.Leclair, who is a member of the Cop Watch group, said police initially appeared to be acting lawfully during the traffic stop until they turned their attention to him."My video could have been used as an asset to their actual investigation until I was detained," Leclair said during a news conference Thursday.The Cop Watch group has watched the video and claims the incident may be indicative of a bigger problem with police behavior."Where there have been threats made against Cop Watch when Cop Watch was out doing what they have every Constitutional right to do -- simply videotape law enforcement in action," Cop Watch representative George Crossley said.Leclair has filed an official complaint with the Orlando Police Department and he said another complaint will likely be filed with the U.S. Justice Department over a civil rights violation.Watch Local 6 News for more on this story.
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