Self-proclaimed ‘First Amendment Auditor’ detained after filming police station
–On Feb. 6, at approximately 10:45 a.m. as Morro Bay Police Chief Gregory Allen was attempting to enter the police parking lot, he observed a man dressed in all black military style clothing with tucked-in military boots standing at the entrance of the police parking lot gate.
The man was videoing with a hand-held video camera. Chief Allen asked the man who he was and what he was doing. The man stated he was videoing police vehicles and activity entering and exiting the parking lot.
Chief Allen entered the police station to have another officer assist him in continuing his efforts to determine whether the above situation posed any threats to officer safety. Chief Allen was then informed the same person had entered the front police lobby moments earlier and began videoing the police lobby. That person then went back to the front of the police station as he continued to video.
Chief Allen said he had an immediate concern for the safety of police employees based on his personal knowledge of past attacks of police stations. Chief Allen, accompanied by another officer, approached the person in front of the police station, talked with him, and asked him for his identification. The person refused to provide his identification or an explanation of his videoing activity. He was subsequently detained for the purpose of ensuring he was not a threat to the safety of police employees or the community, and to verify his actions were not terrorist-related.
An investigation into his identity and actions revealed he posed no public safety threat, and he was a self-proclaimed photo journalist and “First Amendment Auditor.” He then was no longer detained. The entire incident during Chief Allen’s participation the detention occurred over a 45- 60-minute period.
