WILMINGTON, N.C. — A North Carolina police officer has been
suspended for arresting a teenager who recorded him making an arrest.
The Wilmington Star-News reported that Leland Police Sgt.
John Keel was suspended for one month without pay for arresting 19-year-old
Gabriel Self on Aug. 18 at a gas station.
Self was reportedly getting gas when he saw the officer
arresting a man for possessing drug paraphernalia and started recording on his
cell phone.
After he started recording, the officer approached Self and
said, “I’ll give you two seconds to get your tail out of here.”
Self then moved inside the gas station and continued
recording and Keel arrested him.
Self was charged with resisting a public officer and booked
into the Brunswick County jail. The charge was later dropped.
Leland’s town manager David Hollis said citizens cannot
interfere with police in their work, but police cannot prevent them from taking
pictures or video.
Self’s arrest caused Leland police to conduct a
department-wide workshop about its recording policy to avoid future incidents.
Keel will reportedly receive additional training.
Self said the suspension was a bit harsh and all he wanted
was a handshake and an apology.
Self said he wanted to record the incident because an officer
allegedly forced him to show his ID without cause.