Cops Pull Guns, Goes Hands on & Violate the Bane Act

  What the media seemingly refused to cover with Copwatch San Diego

Copwatch San Diego — YouTube

On May 31, 2021, while engaged in lawful Copwatch activities in City Heights, San Diego, IRATE Productions, with Copwatch San Diego, was confronted by a San Diego Police officer who drew his firearm, physically pushed him back, and interfered with his ability to document police activity in a public alley adjacent to his residence. According to the video, the firearm was drawn almost immediately after he entered the alley. He can be heard repeatedly telling officers that the object in his hand was a camera, not a gun.

Police were responding to a report that a man had allegedly been jumping on vehicles and possibly waving a firearm. However, as documented in the video, officers later stated that no gun had been found. Despite this, the encounter escalated into a situation where a firearm was pointed at an independent journalist engaged in constitutionally protected newsgathering activity.

One question remains difficult to ignore: if officers knew who he was and knew his name, why would they claim they believed he was carrying a gun rather than the camera equipment he routinely uses to document police activity? The display of force functioned not as a legitimate safety measure, but as a means of intimidation and coercion directed at someone engaged in protected First Amendment activity.

The incident was captured on video and documented by IRATE Productions under the title “Cops Pull Guns, Put Hands on Me & Violate the Bane Act.” During the encounter, officers allegedly directed bright lights toward the camera while he attempted to document their actions, prompting repeated objections that they were interfering with his ability to record. He also repeatedly requested the names and identification numbers of the officers involved in the incident.

Perhaps most alarming was the explanation later provided by a supervising officer. In the video, the sergeant acknowledged that officers were responding to a report involving an armed suspect and told the journalist that when he emerged with his camera, officers could not immediately identify what he was holding and that he “almost got shot.” Rather than addressing concerns about the use of force, the explanation placed responsibility on the person documenting the incident. The exchange raises broader concerns about officer decision-making when encountering journalists, observers, and members of the public who are lawfully present at a scene.

The California Bane Act prohibits interference with constitutional rights through threats, intimidation, or coercion. Having a firearm drawn while documenting police activity, being physically pushed back, and experiencing interference while recording raises significant concerns regarding both First Amendment press freedoms and Fourth Amendment protections.

This incident was not merely about one encounter. It reflects broader concerns regarding the treatment of independent journalists, Copwatchers, and community observers who monitor government activity. Across the country, police accountability activists and members of the press have reported being detained, threatened, assaulted, or otherwise obstructed while documenting law enforcement conduct. When individuals recording public officials become targets of intimidation, the public’s ability to access information about government actions is undermined.

The public has a right to know when those documenting government conduct are subjected to intimidation, threats of force, or physical interference. Transparency, accountability, and respect for constitutional rights are essential components of public trust, and incidents like this demonstrate why independent documentation of police activity remains necessary.