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March 13, 2006
Dont take pictures of Grand Rapids!
Its not even a good pic!
This post does not reflect the views or opinions of G-rad.org, its members, or it proprietors. This is just me.
On Saturday, March 11th, 2006 I was walking downtown enjoying the wonderful weather and taking pictures of buildings and cityscapes that I found interesting. While doing this I was stopped my a Grand Rapids Police officer and questioned about my activities. He wanted to know why I was taking pictures and if I was taking pictures of graffiti. I was then asked if I had anything to do with graffiti etc.. I told the officer that I had nothing to do with graffiti and was taking pictures of whatever I wanted to in the city. This back and forth continued for a couple of minutes, him questioning me about my graffiti activities ( i am in no way involved with graffiti in Grand rapids). I stated that unless I was a suspect in a crime, a witness to a crime, or I had committed a crime, that I was going to be on my way. As I walked away he grabbed me by the arm and pulled me back into a newspaper vending machine. He said that he was concerned about "graffiti and terrorism"! TERRORISM! Give me a break! I offered to show him the pics that I had taken to end this craziness, but he WOULDNT LOOK AT THEM! I had the proof he wanted in my hand, and he was not concerned. After he ran my name for warrants I was allowed to leave.
Interesting thing is that there were literally hundreds of people downtown taking pictures that day because there was a parade of some sort. Im sure they did not get questioned. There is a lot more to this, things he said, things witnesses said etc... But the main point is:
I WAS HARASSED BY A GRAND RAPIDS POLICE DEPARTMENT OFFICER FOR TAKING PICTURES OF THE CITY I LIVE IN!
To the GRPD: I know you thought I was a punk kid, but I am not. I know more people and have more power than you think I do. this is in no way a threat, all I am saying is this:
1: I WILL NOT LET THIS GO!
2: I WILL CONTINUE TO TAKE PICS OF THIS CITY AND ANYTHING ELSE THAT I WANT TO, INCLUDING ANY GRAFFITI THAT I MIGHT FIND INTERESTING.
Posted by docbeezy at March 13, 2006 11:13 PM
Comments
So wack.
I try to give police the benefit of the doubt, but the fruitless profiling that goes in GR seems to always be severly misguided.
Man, I would have been so pissed. I bet nobody stopped Dick Devos when he was going around filming old buildings in GR to use in his tv commercials.
Posted by: Anthony at March 13, 2006 9:28 AM
I had a problem with the cops and graffiti. While I was living on the corner of Wealthy/Eastern, about a year ago, the police came by and told my landlord I was thought to be the graffiti artists Meek. The police asked my landlord to look in my apt. for spray paint cans, and to see if I was right or left handed. The police also went to the Dwelling Place, where I was a volunteer on their Promotions Committee - and shared the same information.
After hearing about this, I went down to the detectives office in the police dept. and demanded to speak with the person on the case, in hopes to clear up the whole mess. They denied having done any of this and pretty much ignored me until I left.
Posted by: benner at March 13, 2006 9:44 AM
I say we all go to the police station and take pictures of it.
Posted by: Cory Weaver at March 13, 2006 12:42 PM
that is bullshit! there was a St. Patrick's Day parade...(that I was in) but that is simply bullshit. the idea that taking a picture of graffiti being a crime is laughable too. i can see where they might be coming from (pictures of one's work, thus busting the 'criminal'), but that harrassment really makes me angry. sorry, man.
and bennr, holy shit! meek! i saw a tagging of his in a chicago coffeeshop bathroom around new year's.
Posted by: kevin at March 13, 2006 12:47 PM
kevin, next to that hot dog place in wicker park?
doc. were your arms covered? i like to give the police the benefit of the doubt too... but, if not, it feels totally profiled...
Posted by: george at March 13, 2006 1:01 PM
My arms were covered. I was wearing a plain brown Zoo York Jacket and a Ben Sherman Baseball hat with some Jeans on.
When I showed him my license he accused me of being Meek, because my Last Name is Weeks! COME ON!
I met with internal affairs today to file a complaint. It went well, an investigation is in process.
Posted by: docbeezy at March 13, 2006 1:27 PM
http://207.70.82.73/pages/descriptions/06/309.html
Posted by: george at March 13, 2006 1:30 PM
silly, do you know this cops name
Posted by: Anonymous at March 13, 2006 2:48 PM
yes. ALready filed a complaint.
Posted by: docbeezy at March 13, 2006 2:49 PM
George! yes! well, it's called sideshow or something. it has a circus tent looking entrance. i had jerk seitan sandwich on new year's day.
beez- welcome, by the way.
Posted by: kevin at March 13, 2006 4:13 PM
i have used that restroom many a time.
Posted by: george at March 13, 2006 4:22 PM
yeah I have pictures of a Meek tag on the ceiling of Ear Wax Cafe [here], don't tell the cops I took this picture though! i don't want them grabbing my arm!
Posted by: benner at March 13, 2006 5:02 PM
yeah I have pictures of a Meek tag on the ceiling of Ear Wax Cafe http://www.g-rad.org/benner/archives/mekchicago2.jpg], don't tell the cops I took this picture though! i don't want them grabbing my arm!
Posted by: Anonymous at March 13, 2006 5:06 PM
Graffiti and terrorism? Damn. Talk about a police state, talk about indoctrination, talk about climate of fear. This kind of situation points to the state of things and then straight to the 'top' - the G.W. Bush administration and corporate media propaganda. We don't have the 'big stick' we have propaganda and little incidents like this are perfect examples of a deterioration of human/civil rights in this country. We certainly aren't immune to fascism here.
If he grabbed your arm without provocation, that can be construed as assault legally, I think. The police need to know their place. It's 'protect and serve' I think, not intimidate and enforce.
Posted by: bnjmn at March 14, 2006 4:14 AM
I think it is endlessly pathetic that the cops spend so much time trying to get up on the Graffitti stuff in this town,
I think that is some bogus ass shit, it is kinda like asking me if i am a prostitue for wearing a skirt and waving hello to a friend in a car.
what a bunch of crap.
waht was the cop's name?
Posted by: Jennschaub at March 14, 2006 9:25 AM
dude, that is weak! im glad u handled it the way you did though, had it been me, i probly wudda flew off the handle and got my ass beat down by the cop
Posted by: Stigma at October 8, 2007 8:41 AM
fuck tha police its grb Gun.Ru.Bombers fuck MAIN! and Destro...
Posted by: grb..... at May 2, 2008 10:52 PM