I sure hope I have my seat belt fastened if THAT trooper pulls me over . . . =)

Just don't be an ass, do as he tells you, don't get in his face trying to get a reaction and cry like a 2 year old when you get said reaction, and you'll be OK.

What about that lady standing there with uptight facial expression? Does anyone know what she was whispering into another officer's ear?

She was whispering "his daddy should have taken him out behind the shed years ago".

Is there a "personal space" clause in the law? How close is a person allowed to be before a person is legally threatened? Does it take a person actually touching someone before retaliation is warranted?

Is there a "personal space" clause in the law? How close is a person allowed to be before a person is legally threatened? Does it take a person actually touching someone before retaliation is warranted?

My understanding is it is like most self defense laws and comes down to what is considered reasonable by the average person. Part of the problem for the officer would be that striking the protester would most likely not be seen as reasonable. That said, I doubt he faces any charges and most likely nothing more than a footnote in his jacket.

Just don't be an ass, do as he tells you, don't get in his face trying to get a reaction and cry like a 2 year old when you get said reaction, and you'll be OK.

Evidentally, you don't think as much of our officers as I do. I expect them to be better than this pest...not worse. And he was worse! Folks seem to have forgotten that the protester ALSO had a camera "in his face". But somehow, he managed to deal with that problem far, far better than the officer who lost his cool. Since the officer filming the protester was also trying to provoke a reation, would the proper response have been to slap the camera out of his hand? Or do you guys have shifting values? lol

The Dbag was probably out there protesting the road because he prob doesn't have a car to be able to use it.

Good for the highway patrol. I would have throttled the kid. Guess thats why I am not an officer. There is a different between free speech and free speech trying to instigate a reaction out of someone.

I do think it was out of line for knock camera down though, he'll prob get a day suspension or something.

It just amazes me that these kids fail to realize that these officers risk thier lives every day to protect us. Not many people out there would do that.

...There is a different between free speech and free speech trying to instigate a reaction out of someone...

Actually, I think many a historian could argue that is EXACTLY what the idea of free speech is all about.

This is situation is one of things that frustrates me. A person can go up and be a complete ass to somebody and get away with it. When somebody steps up does something about it they have to be controlled and play by the rules. This guy clearly provoked the trooper so he is just as guilty as the trooper.

Anybody who is familiar with police training knows one the first rules of self defense is not allowing some to enter your personal space. When someone enters your personal space you give the command to step back, you step back, or you strike the threat. Where the trooper went wrong was not instructing the guy to step back. If the guy had step forward again, knock the phone out of his hand would have been justified. The most that should happen (probably already happened) is the Trooper should be counseled on his conduct and reminded he needs to keep his cool. He should not allow his buttons to be pushed by anyone.

We don't have to like everyone in this world however, we need to treat everyone with respect (including people of authority). I have no tolerance for those that provoke others. If you poke the bear in the cage don't cry about it when he breaks out of the cage and mauls you to death.

Let's review:

Destruction of Property (evidence available in video)
Damage to the property? Perhaps, but wasn't he later using that same phone at the end of that video? Couldn't have been too damaged if he was still able to use it.

Emotional Damage (totally so common in many claims)
He's already emotionally damaged (as evidenced by his own actions), so it might be difficult to prove that there was ADDITIONAL emotional damage.

Mental Damage (I know there is a legal term for this)
Again, he already appears to be mentally damaged (as evidenced by his own actions), so it again might be difficult to prove that there was ADDITIONAL damage.

Financial Damage/Hardship (repair or replace phone)
Financial damage? Perhaps a scratch or two, especially since it seemed to be working for him at the end of the video. Hardship? Hardly.


As others have referenced, that guy was a pain in the ass douchebag and was unabashedly so. However, as a professional, that trooper did not exercise sufficient restraint and his actions, while understandable, are hardly justifiable and I will be very surprised if there is not some sort of internal discipline. If any of us did that to another person, you can bet that same trooper could very well take action against us for assault, even if the other person was within our personal space. Bad judgment on his part, but I don't blame him. The kid was an ass.

Just making sure Of Sound Mind understand clearly that I'm not on the protestor's side.

If any of us did that to another person, you can bet that same trooper could very well take action against us for assault, even if the other person was within our personal space.

You bet your booty they'd arrest you for assault!

The trooper should have taken whatever steps he could to get the jerk to step over the line so he could legally face plant him. I bet the idiot would have taken the bait if it had been presented correctly.

TaoMaas, is it just me or are you pissed off at this officer? I'm starting to think you have a not so pleasant history with him.

The trooper should have taken whatever steps he could to get the jerk to step over the line so he could legally face plant him. I bet the idiot would have taken the bait if it had been presented correctly.

Yeah, that's what I want officers to focus on ... how to get away with face planting someone. Sheeeesh.

Let's not forget that if there wasn't a camera on this dbag, he wouldn't have been instigating crap. Just a big setup to get a reaction to post on youtube.

TaoMaas, is it just me or are you pissed off at this officer? I'm starting to think you have a not so pleasant history with him.

No, I just think he crossed a line that would have gotten a regular person arrested. He handled it all wrong. The officer next to him had the right attitude. He was treating the protester as a joke...which he was.

No, I just think he crossed a line that would have gotten a regular person arrested. He handled it all wrong. The officer next to him had the right attitude. He was treating the protester as a joke...which he was.

This is the way I look at it:

Why did the whole situation happen? Because Harry Potter wanted to provoke. It worked for him. Had there been no OHP officers there, Harry Potter would have found an Oklahoma County deputy or an Oklahoma City police officer to get what he wanted.

It was his sole purpose. Had there been no officers, what would they have done? Who would they have harassed? Do you agree that, had there been no officers there, there would be no video of this today and we would not be arguing the point?

The fine point is, there would have not have been a "line to cross" had this jackhole not put his phone in anyone's face...

Do you agree that, had there been no officers there, there would be no video of this today and we would not be arguing the point? Oh, I definitely agree! He was trying to provoke the officer and they were trying to get footage of it. No question about it. That still doesn't make it lawful to put your hands on another person. In fact, any person who is out in public is fair game to be photographed. They may leave, if they want, but they don't have a right to attack the photographer.



The fine point is, there would have not have been a "line to cross" had this jackhole not put his phone in anyone's face... No...the line of not putting your hands on another person without a legal reason is always there. Like I said earlier, I'm sure this officer would have no problem arresting someone for assault for the same infraction.

Oh, I definitely agree! He was trying to provoke the officer and they were trying to get footage of it. No question about it. That still doesn't make it lawful to put your hands on another person. In fact, any person who is out in public is fair game to be photographed. They may leave, if they want, but they don't have a right to attack the photographer.

In that thought, what photographer is going to put his equipment, knowingly, right into his subject's face? There's a difference between a novice/amateur/professional photographer and someone who's blatant goal is to get a reaction from someone.

They may leave, if they want, but they don't have a right to attack the photographer.



He couldn't leave. He was working and trying to do a job. And if he had 'attacked the photographer' said photographer would have been down on the ground in one second. I personally think it is an overreaction to call that simple little thing 'attack'.

Not quite. You can certainly be charged with assault without laying a finger on someone. It happens all the time. Don't confuse assault with battery. If I am sitting in a restaurant and you come and put both of your hands right in front of my face, I am going to react just as if you are assaulting me physically (battery). I think it is sad that people can tempt the line between assault and civil rights on an officer so easily.

Note: I should note, I am not a lawyer and my definitions of assault and battery may be off. Just how I recall them.



Eh. I'm not an lawyer either but assault is a threat of violence. Battery is unwanted contact, usually violent. So maybe someone putting their hands in your face could be interpreted as a threat of violence by you, even if it was not intended to be by them, which probably isn't going to qualify as criminal assault, but if they were obviously only interested in taking your photo or even just being annoying, that's not going to meet the definition.

You might be able to claim invasion of privacy, if you have attempted to carve out some privacy, like taking a dark corner booth in a restaurant or some such, but not when standing in the middle of a crowd.

Does anyone know why the cops were there? Were they there primarily to keep the peace or were they there primarily to participate in the festivities as PR for the Highway Patrol?

Does anyone know why the cops were there? Were they there primarily to keep the peace or were they there primarily to participate in the festivities as PR for the Highway Patrol?

Protestors usually arrive at events early, so I'm sure someone panicked by calling for OHP warfare troops.

The cop needs a slap on the wrist, probably some anger management evaluation and training. I'm not holding my breath he's going to get any of that but I don't know that much about the OHP or how they police themselves.

If the cops were there to keep the peace and not just be hood ornaments, I think he could have told Jay, Jay, my job is to be observant of the activities and traffic at this event. You are interfering with that duty because you are restricting my vision. Please move along. And then about the third time he stuck the camera in his face, he could have calmly arrested him. But it didn't look to me like those cops had much interest in anything other than Jay and Jay was not in that cop's face that long before the guy lost his cool. At least from what we can see on the video.

In the end the cop won't face any charges and it will be an internal matter. Unless someone is fired they won't release any of the details of internal personnel issues.

Why wasn't Jay arrested for committing a crime if he was such a threat to the officer? Everyone knows that Jay was being annoying but that doesn't give the police the legal right to slap someone. An OHP officer choked the paramedic who was en-route to the hospital with a patient, then they had several incidents after that. What is happening when cameras aren't rolling? At least we know how Mary Fallin feels about OHP breaking rules...

News9 and Irvin Box's take on it (for what its worth)..... http://www.news9.com/category/116601/video-page?topVideoCatNo=188830&autostart=true&clipid=6616502

I find the protester so annoying that, while I think the trooper acted improperly, I have zero sympathy for the 'victim.'

News9 and Irvin Box's take on it (for what its worth)..... http://www.news9.com/category/116601/video-page?topVideoCatNo=188830&autostart=true&clipid=6616502

I find the protester so annoying that, while I think the trooper acted improperly, I have zero sympathy for the 'victim.'

100% agree with you, Brian.

he was laughing during the interview and he seems fine i think he wants all the money that the big business want so he doesn't had to pay the taxes

This idiot is not doing his cause any good at all. Is there even one single person who would watch that interview with him and not wish the trooper and slapped his face instead of just knocking his phone out of his hand? Which after seeing it in slow-mo, looks like the trooper showed very nice control and didn't touch the guy at all when he slapped away the phone.

There's something wrong with a society that thinks the clothes I choose matter. If you can't see my dangly bits who cares?

Employers care how people look or carry themselves,and if anyone want's a decent paying job they should dress and shave accordingly!Society is the way it is,and while I may agree with You,it's just the way it is!

Why wasn't Jay arrested for committing a crime if he was such a threat to the officer? Everyone knows that Jay was being annoying but that doesn't give the police the legal right to slap someone. An OHP officer choked the paramedic who was en-route to the hospital with a patient, then they had several incidents after that. What is happening when cameras aren't rolling? At least we know how Mary Fallin feels about OHP breaking rules...

I'm not sure why the reference of Mary Fallin but I can just about gaurantee you didn't vote for her.

I seen that video too; for the record, I may be wrong but if I recall correctly they both were en-route to an accident and the paramedic went ahead of the officer and for some unknown reason he took exception to it and went nuts at the scene of the accident. That dude was just crazy with control issues, this guy slapped a phone out of a prick's hand, no physical harm unlike the other OHP you're alluding to. Don't try and make a connection just because they both were OHP.

Welcome to the forum BTW.

Why wasn't Jay arrested for committing a crime if he was such a threat to the officer? Everyone knows that Jay was being annoying but that doesn't give the police the legal right to slap someone. An OHP officer choked the paramedic who was en-route to the hospital with a patient, then they had several incidents after that. What is happening when cameras aren't rolling? At least we know how Mary Fallin feels about OHP breaking rules...

The ambulance incident was nothing more than a stupid power play between both the paramedic and the trooper. The trooper could have ignored it and addressed the matter at a later time. After all his dash cam recorded the tag and unit number of the ambulance. The incident could have been addressed behind closed doors with a duty supervisor from OHP and the ambulance operator. The paramedic could have told the trooper. "I have a patient on board follow us to the hospital and we can discuss this there." When your a crew leader or a supervisor you have to the high road when dealing with somebody. It appeared to me the paramedic thought he was above the law because he was working for one of the indian tribes. I have heard of police officers running into issues with tribal police officers because they think they have free reign. They have to be reminded that only exist on indian land. When their off indian land local, state, federal officers override their authority. Just like a Moore PD officer would override an Oklahoma City Officer when a situation occurs in Moore and vice versa.


Protestors usually arrive at events early, so I'm sure someone panicked by calling for OHP warfare troops.

OHP Troopers are not just highway cops they are the state police their jurisdiction is the entire state. Nobody called them. They were likely there for an executive protection detail. OHP troopers are used for state dignitaries in the same way secret service is for federal dignitaries.

Speaking of Mary Fallin, she was also at this event. Does anyone think this incident might be looked at differently if she was the one he was getting so close to with his cell phone camera and it got knocked out of his hand? In other words, would that be considered a perceived threat against her when someone might think it was not a threat to the trooper?

I'm not sure why the reference of Mary Fallin but I can just about gaurantee you didn't vote for her.

I seen that video too; for the record, I may be wrong but if I recall correctly they both were en-route to an accident and the paramedic went ahead of the officer and for some unknown reason he took exception to it and went nuts at the scene of the accident. That dude was just crazy with control issues, this guy slapped a phone out of a prick's hand, no physical harm unlike the other OHP you're alluding to. Don't try and make a connection just because they both were OHP.

Welcome to the forum BTW.

Thanks!
I think you got most of your facts wrong about the OHP / paramedic incident. I referenced Mary Fallin because I thought that OHP reports to the Governor just like the OKC police department reports to the mayor? Mary Fallin has done a great job for the state so far but I do think that OHP is too aggressive in many situations and she should encourage them to protect and serve instead of intimidate and bully. I know that OHP has some great officers but some of their members have major anger management issues.

Thanks!
I think you got most of your facts wrong about the OHP / paramedic incident. I referenced Mary Fallin because I thought that OHP reports to the Governor just like the OKC police department reports to the mayor? Mary Fallin has done a great job for the state so far but I do think that OHP is too aggressive in many situations and she should encourage them to protect and serve instead of intimidate and bully. I know that OHP has some great officers but some of their members have major anger management issues.

I never stated any facts, I was stating my memory which like most others can fail me at times such as this. I also might be stating someone else's "fact" which in turn was false which is my bad for believing something other than the official verified report. Point taken on the overly aggressive OHP and that there are dirty officers just like in sports there are dirty players and sometimes dirty officials. I also agree that some of them have anger management issues although the ones I've personally come into verbal contact with are very friendly and very calm, but that's only a few so I can't speak for every officer in Oklahoma.

Speaking of Mary Fallin, she was also at this event. Does anyone think this incident might be looked at differently if she was the one he was getting so close to with his cell phone camera and it got knocked out of his hand? In other words, would that be considered a perceived threat against her when someone might think it was not a threat to the trooper?

That is an unlikely situation to occur, he would probably be crossing into a restricted area and removed.

That is an unlikely situation to occur, he would probably be crossing into a restricted area and removed.

I didn't say it was likely. I just asked if it would be perceived differently?

If the cops were there to keep the peace and not just be hood ornaments, I think he could have told Jay, Jay, my job is to be observant of the activities and traffic at this event. You are interfering with that duty because you are restricting my vision. Please move along. And then about the third time he stuck the camera in his face, he could have calmly arrested him.

I agree...I think this is what the officer should have done...if anything.

While I think the trooper overreacted, I will say that he was correct in one thing... if you get too close, you are a threat. One thing that we are taught in self defense courses is that the closer a potential threat is to you, the less time you have to adequately defend yourself. Given that, this person was WAY too close for any person, especially an LEO, to feel comfortable with any potential threats.

The punk was itching for a reaction and he got one. The trooper should have had a little more self control and this looks bad for the OHP... but as I said previously, I completely understand his reaction. I'm generally not a violent person, but I do protect my personal space... if that punk had done that to me, I would have reacted the same way (or worse)... and been happy to deal with whatever consequences, countercharging his assault and battery allegations against me with assault and threat allegations against him (whether successful or not).

I work downtown and I've had to deal with several of the Occupy protestors. If there goal is to generate discussion and interest in their cause, they've successfully done that... but not in support of their cause but in disgust and frustration with their behavior and actions.

... Given that, this person was WAY too close for any person, especially an LEO, to feel comfortable with any potential threats. ...

However, he was also about as close at times to two other officers. It looked to me he had stepped in even closer to the trooper who was also filming. Neither of whom gave over their professionalism. So in this instance, 2 outta 3 LEO's would appear to disagree.

I wanna buy the filming trooper a cup of coffee. Calm, collected and absolutely mocking all at the same time. Well played all in all. The aggravated trooper could learn from him.

However, he was also about as close at times to two other officers. It looked to me he had stepped in even closer to the trooper who was also filming. Neither of whom gave over their professionalism. So in this instance, 2 outta 3 LEO's would appear to disagree.

I wanna buy the filming trooper a cup of coffee. Calm, collected and absolutely mocking all at the same time. Well played all in all. The aggravated trooper could learn from him.

+1

While I think the trooper overreacted, I will say that he was correct in one thing... if you get too close, you are a threat. One thing that we are taught in self defense courses is that the closer a potential threat is to you, the less time you have to adequately defend yourself.

lol Oh, please! I'm assuming you've never stood in line at Wal Mart without taking out those around you, right?

I work downtown and I've had to deal with several of the Occupy protestors.

I work downtown and have had to deal with them, too. I give them the amount of attention they deserve...which is to say "none". But then, I don't get pizzed off because a mosquito buzzed around me.

I wanna buy the filming trooper a cup of coffee. Calm, collected and absolutely mocking all at the same time. Well played all in all. The aggravated trooper could learn from him.

He's gonna have two cups of coffee because I'll buy him one, too. IMHO, he was treating "Jay" as a joke...which he was.

lol Oh, please! I'm assuming you've never stood in line at Wal Mart without taking out those around you, right?
Different situation, especially since I voluntarily put myself in that line; but I do tend to keep at least a shopping cart between me and the next person. If someone approaches me, for whatever reason, I tend to be more circumspect until I've evaluated their intent and perceived threat.

However, he was also about as close at times to two other officers. It looked to me he had stepped in even closer to the trooper who was also filming. Neither of whom gave over their professionalism. So in this instance, 2 outta 3 LEO's would appear to disagree.

I wanna buy the filming trooper a cup of coffee. Calm, collected and absolutely mocking all at the same time. Well played all in all. The aggravated trooper could learn from him.
I don't disagree. All I said was that I understand where that trooper was coming from, but that doesn't necessarily justify his reaction.

Back in The Wild and Wacky '60's--when I was a yoot--I took part in lots of political demonstrations.

Somehow I always managed to wind up in the front line, directly facing the line of riot gear clad police.

I also mananged to have some interesting and informative conversations with some of them during the hours that would pass before some asshole in the crowd would do something stupid--like, for example, throwing a bottle and cracking the skull of a plainclothes officer, standing behind The Thin Blue Line maintaining a semblance of order, simply chatting with another plainclothes officer at the Demonstration Venue.

During those conversations, I learned that behind the face shields, back of the batons and under the helmet were regular guys just doing an extraordinary job.

That's why, when the "Police Riots" would break out and "innocent" bystanders would get beaten into the ground, I was unsure where my sympathies should be placed.

I'm not unsure now.
The Trooper should, at the very least, have ground the cellphone into the pavement after slapping it out of the "scrote's" hand and asked--with a smile--"You want a piece of that?"

I am sure that it is probably a good thing that I didn't actually become a police officer.
I'd be writing too many tickets for texting in traffic while I completely ignore enforcement of the seatbelt law. =)

All this doesn't even matter, and I am surprised that this thread has gotten so many comments.
That's all that dude in the skinny jeans and man scarf wants is just more attention..
Don't give them what they want!
They have freedom of speech, but I have the freedom to NOT LISTEN to them!

Wow . . . Like he said.
And now the shelves are bare at Pronouns are Us.

I still trust the unruly Trooper.
To protect your freedom.

As Walt Kelly once said--using Pogo as a platform:
"We have met the enemy and he is us."

If they went there to protest the opening of the Highway or the dignitaries that were present fine, but as soon as they showed up, they went straight to the officers and started their crap, and IMHO, got what they deserved.

...as soon as they showed up, they went straight to the officers and started their crap, and IMHO, got what they deserved.

What they got is a lot of attention and bringing a state trooper's actions into question. Do they really deserve that amount of publicity? I don't think so!

If they went there to protest the opening of the Highway or the dignitaries that were present fine, but as soon as they showed up, they went straight to the officers and started their crap, and IMHO, got what they deserved.

They got more than that - they got exactly what they were looking for.... a reaction that would garner media attention. I don't like that little flamer of a protester but he got what he set out to do, so I'll give him that.

If the trooper had ignored him like the others did, none of us would be hearing anything about this.