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[Jenga]

A picture may be worth 1,000 words, but Narces Benoit's decision to videotape a shooting by Miami police landed him in jail after officers smashed his cell-phone camera.

It was 4am on May 30 when Benoit and his girlfriend Erika Davis saw officers firing dozens of bullets into a car driven by Raymond Herisse, a suspect who hit a police officer and other vehicles while driving recklessly. Herisse died in the hail of lead, and four bystanders also suffered gunshot wounds, the Miami Herald newspaper reported.

Police noticed the man filming the shooting and an officer jumped into his truck, and put a pistol to his head, Benoit said. The video shows officers crowding around Herisse's vehicle before opening fire, followed by indistinguishable yelling at onlookers, including Benoit, to stop filming.

The cop yelled: "Wanna be a [expletive] paparazzi?" Benoit recounted in a TV interview.

"My phone was smashed, he stepped on it, handcuffed me," the 35-year-old car stereo technician told CNN.
Despite his phone being destroyed, Benoit was able to save the footage by taking the memory card out of the device and putting it in his mouth before handing it over to police, he said, adding that officers smashed several other cameras in the chaos which followed the shooting.

video and article here

also

DAT FUCKER AINT DEAD HE DEAD NOW

EDIT: miami statement on the incident

Miami Beach Police released the following statement:

As can be noted in the video, Mr. Benoit had exited his vehicle and approached the incident scene and was observed quickly walking toward his vehicle immediately after the shooting. Because Mr. Benoit matched the description of one of the subjects just reported fleeing the scene and, further, because he ignored repeated commands as he quickly walked towards and entered his vehicle, he was detained by officers.

During the course of the investigation, Mr. Benoit was brought to the station as a witness to the incident. In a recorded statement, the investigating detective informed Mr. Benoit that his cell phone was being seized as investigative evidence and would be returned to him at a later date. Mr. Benoit signed and was provided with a copy of the Miami Beach Property Receipt.
Any and all video of the incident is crucial to the investigation, and it is not unusual for police to secure any video that may have evidentiary value. Several other phones were also secured during the course of the investigation.

Contrary to Mr. Benoit's statements to the media, the cell phone turned over to the Miami Beach Police Department is in working order; the only damage observed to the cell phone is to the lower right portion of the LCD screen and it is unknown when this damage occurred. This damage does not appear consistent with Mr. Benoit's statements to the media that his phone was "smashed."

 

[xxracerxx]

Holy shit.

Good on him for being a fucking spy and getting that chip out of there.


That fucking bike cop with his gun pointed at his head, holy fuck!

 

[Takamura-San]

Can't see the video at work.

But if the thing is true... that's messed up.

 

[badcrumble]

Good for him for saving the memory card. Quick thinking, and I don't know if I'd be fast-thinking enough to do the same.

 

[Jenga]

man, when that bike cop pulls a gun on the dude for having a camera...

 

[3N16MA]

You might want to bold that last part about him saving the memory card. Pretty important part of the story.

 

[dragonlife]

It's amazing to me that some still don't know to take out the memory card if they want the evidence.

 

[The Elite]

I'd like to know what Memory Card he used. Quality Stuff.

It's amazing to me that some still don't know to take out the memory card if they want the evidence.

Doesn't surprise me one bit.

 

[SolKane]

Goddamn at that video. Suspension and criminal investigation of the officers immediately, and mandatory requirement of video camera for all police personnel.

 

[empty vessel]

Well, that's inviting a lawsuit. Sadly, this is all pretty typical police practice.

 

[water_wendi]

The police should be happy that there was a citizen to record their rightful adherence to the law. If the killing were justified then video would be evidence of this, right?

 

[jamesinclair]

Cops should be in jail for:

Stealing and destroying private property
Witness intimidation
Abuse of power
Tampering with evidence

Among others.

Lock them up, and sue the shit out of them.

 

[The Elite]

Well, that's inviting a lawsuit. Sadly, this is all pretty typical police practice.

This doesn't sound like typical behavior one bit.

 

[water_wendi]

This doesn't sound like typical behavior one bit.

i think ive seen at least five or so videos of police harassing people video taping this month alone.

 

[AbsoluteZero]

i think ive seen at least five or so videos of police harassing people video taping this month alone.

Five police officers = everybody, of course.

 

[levious]

four bystanders hit?

 

[btkadams]

wow. same thing happened to my friend's brother though when he was outside a bar filming a guy getting beat up by cops. they took his phone and deleted it off of it.

 

[Jenga]

Five police officers = everybody, of course.

man all those times i got stopped i was lucky to not get shot!

 

[bangai-o]

Well, that's inviting a lawsuit. Sadly, this is all pretty typical police practice.

Probably typical to you who only watches crooked cop shows on tv.

 

[Oppo]

Some of these phones and cameras can already shoot directly to YouTube in near-realtime.

Wonder what the cops think they'll do about that.

 

[Xenon]

Cops should be in jail for:

Stealing and destroying private property
Witness intimidation
Abuse of power
Tampering with evidence

Among others.

Lock them up, and sue the shit out of them.

HeHe THEM

 

[Jenga]

Some of these phones and cameras can already shoot directly to YouTube in near-realtime.

Wonder what the cops think they'll do about that.

destroy the internets

 

[Trojita]

Where is my G-A-F?

Having a cop jump in your car and put a gun to your head for videotaping them kill somebody? The fuck is that?

Worst part is that they are just going to get administrative leave with pay at most and a pat on the back from their fellow officers.

 

[dudeworld]

Cops should be in jail for:

Stealing and destroying private property
Witness intimidation
Abuse of power
Tampering with evidence

Among others.

Lock them up, and sue the shit out of them.

if it were up to me I'd slap murder and attempted murder charges on them.

 

[The Lamonster]

Sorry Defense Force, but fuck cops.

 

[KJTB]

I hope to god that every one of those cops gets punished to the full extent of the law. Won't happen, but it would be nice to have some real justice for once.

That video was disturbing, to say the least. I don't see how Police Defense Force can justify this at all, sorry.

 

[water_wendi]

Five police officers = everybody, of course.

As long as police stay silent on the matter, thats absolutely right. Their silence = acceptance.

 

[dudeworld]

Some of these phones and cameras can already shoot directly to YouTube in near-realtime.

Wonder what the cops think they'll do about that.

considering how brain dead the cops are in that video, they'd probably put a gun to your head and demand you to fork over "those youtubes"

 

[Bad_Boy]

smart thinking to take the memory card out.

 

[Stairs]

the cops did it to be safety...you shouldnt judge...guy deserves to go to jail for interfering with police matter..

their there to protect and serve

 

[Xenon]

Sorry Defense Force, but fuck cops.

Fuck the scum bag low-life criminals more!

 

[WAWAZA]

OOOoooo police shooting someone.
wow OOOooooo WOOOOOWWWWW!!!!

/sarcasim

 

[Mechanical Snowman]

the cops did it to be safety...you shouldnt judge...guy deserves to go to jail for interfering with police matter..

their there to protect and serve

6/10

 

[aronnov reborn]

35-year-old car stereo technician

so works in the back of best buy?

 

[JoeBoy101]

Ahh, and the continued criminalization of videographers of police actions continues.

 

[Mr_Brit]

Lolz at guns being legal for anyone to carry, cop or civilian.

 

[Stairs]

6/10

no I think the video is from yesterday

 

[Oppo]

considering how brain dead the cops are in that video, they'd probably put a gun to your head and demand you to fork over "those youtubes"

I think if I'm ever in such a situation where I've recorded some heinous police overreach, I'd be uploading while I ran. That could be your insurance policy if they're really nasty about it.

They're going to look for memory cards before long, most probably already are smart enough to do that, but if you can get it onto the net then you keep it out of their reach for at least a short time.

 

[Jenga]

As long as police stay silent on the matter, thats absolutely right. Their silence = acceptance.

i don't think a cop in texas knows about what some dumb shit in la is doing

 

[Stinkles]

Well, that's inviting a lawsuit. Sadly, this is all pretty typical police practice.

Typical behavior is giving you a meaningless and patronizing lecture for a 10mph speeding infraction. This is atypical, although possibly more common than we'd like.

 

[linsivvi]

wow. same thing happened to my friend's brother though when he was outside a bar filming a guy getting beat up by cops. they took his phone and deleted it off of it.

You know if he switched off the phone immediately and took the memory card out, he could probably find a technician who can restore the file.

 

[Bulbo Urethral Baggins]

Miami Beach Police released the following statement:

As can be noted in the video, Mr. Benoit had exited his vehicle and approached the incident scene and was observed quickly walking toward his vehicle immediately after the shooting. Because Mr. Benoit matched the description of one of the subjects just reported fleeing the scene and, further, because he ignored repeated commands as he quickly walked towards and entered his vehicle, he was detained by officers.

During the course of the investigation, Mr. Benoit was brought to the station as a witness to the incident. In a recorded statement, the investigating detective informed Mr. Benoit that his cell phone was being seized as investigative evidence and would be returned to him at a later date. Mr. Benoit signed and was provided with a copy of the Miami Beach Property Receipt.
Any and all video of the incident is crucial to the investigation, and it is not unusual for police to secure any video that may have evidentiary value. Several other phones were also secured during the course of the investigation.

Contrary to Mr. Benoit's statements to the media, the cell phone turned over to the Miami Beach Police Department is in working order; the only damage observed to the cell phone is to the lower right portion of the LCD screen and it is unknown when this damage occurred. This damage does not appear consistent with Mr. Benoit's statements to the media that his phone was "smashed."

 

[ClosingADoor]

and four bystanders also suffered gunshot wounds

WTF. Just write down his license plate number and arrest him at his house. No need to shoot four innocent people.

 

[Trojita]

6/10

6/10 is better than average.

That shit is either a 0/10 or a 1/10 at best. His trolling isn't very good. His fucked up grammar makes it worse.

 

[Kaako]

I wanted to smash that bike cop's face in.
Good on this dude for saving the memory card.

 

[quickwhips]

Some of these phones and cameras can already shoot directly to YouTube in near-realtime.

Wonder what the cops think they'll do about that.

most won't have to worry but it will weed at the bad ones so I think it will be great.

 

[Jenga]

WTF. Just write down his license plate number and arrest him at his house. No need to shoot four innocent people.

before being stopped the driver hit a cop and a couple of vehicles

i don't think most cops would have wait for him to go home or something

Miami Beach Police released the following statement:
"

edited into OP so people won't think im biased!

 

[YYZ]

Video showing a man being decimated by a barrage of bullets. Bleep out the swear words. America.

 

[chaostrophy]

Fuck the scum bag low-life criminals more!

If you look at the big picture throughout human history, the amount of harm done by official forces like police and military organizations vastly exceeds harm done by criminals.

This is why the right to bear arms is so important. If the rest of the population leaves their personal defense to the police, the police will begin to see everyone else as weaker than them, easy prey.

 

[Angry Grimace]

The thing is, many cops actually believe it is illegal to film them, and many that don't actually think this believe it should be.

If it ever becomes illegal to film the police, it means it's time to move the fuck out of the country. The police as a whole aren't a corrupt entity, but the fact that the only people who can police the police are...the police (even good cops don't rat on other cops), means that they essentially can act as they see fit without repercussions.