HARTFORD & EAST HARTFORD, Conn. (WTNH) — The Connecticut State Police Internal Affairs division is investigating an incident caught on video that appears to show troopers not familiar with Connecticut laws.
The incident happened in September but is just coming to light now as an East Hartford man is pushing back against the charges made against him.
We’ve been reporting for the past few years how the legislature has made it clear that citizens have the right to photograph the police doing their jobs as long as it doesn’t interfere. Apparently the word has not gotten down to all the police.
Here’s a transcript of the audio on the video that was taken by 27-year-old Michael Picard;
TROOPER: “It’s illegal to take my picture”
PICARD: “No it isn’t”
TROOPER: “It’s illegal to take my picture.”
PICARD: “It’s public property.”
TROOPER: “It’s illegal to take my picture personally. It is illegal. Did you get any documentation I’m allowing you to take my picture?
PICARD: “No, but you’re on public property.”
TROOPER: “I’m on state property, I’m on state property.”
PICARD: “You have no reasonable expectation…”
TROOPER: “Be quiet.”
PICARD: “Can I have my phone back?”
TROOPER: “Not yet……I got the camera.”
You might call Picard a one-man protest movement. He was protesting against State Police DUI traffic stops in September when this occurred. He also was openly carrying a firearm at his protest which is perfectly legal in Connecticut because he has a gun permit.
At a previous point in the video, another trooper also removes his weapon even though he had not broken any law. After the camera was taken, it kept rolling and on the audio portion the troopers can be heard discussing how they can charge Picard, with one trooper suggesting they must have something to cover their posteriors on this.
TROOPER “We gotta cover our ass.”
After detaining Picard for 40 minutes, they returned his phone and his gun. “The problem with the video appears to be that the State Police were expending some effort towards inventing a reason to give the person a ticket,” said Atty. Dan Barrett of the ‘ACLU of Connecticut.’
Picard says, “They charged me with ‘Creating a Public Disturbance’ and ‘Reckless use of the highway by a pedestrian.” The original fine of $300 has since been reduced to $25, but Picard is continuing to fight any charges because he feels he did nothing wrong.
The head of the State Police Union says he supports the troopers in this case and that people should not rush to judgement. “We’d ask that the public not attempt to provoke law enforcement when they’re doing the difficult job they have and I think in every experience everyone, both the public and law enforcement can learn a great deal,” said Sgt. Andrew Matthews.
We sent these videos to State Police Headquarters earlier this week, and spokesperson Trooper Kelly Grant issued as statement saying; “…now that this video has come to our attention we will forward it to Professional Standards (Internal Affairs) for review.”
