A school liaison officer and employee of the Manchester, New Hampshire police department made a questionable arrest involving physical force on a 17 year old student who offered no threat or resistance. The entire scene was caught on camera. That footage was made public, as were subsequent telephone interviews. Now, the man responsible for going public with the evidence is the one facing jail time—21 years to be exact.
In the initial video, posted here on YouTube, you can see Officer Darren Murphy confronting a student. In the footage that follows the assault, we learn that the officer and principal were talking to the student about taking his sisters wallet. After some initial verbal resistance, the student hands over the wallet.
As the officer and principal leave the table, they inform the student that he is being suspended. He, understandably frustrated, asks why. This is when Officer Murphy physically assaults the child and tells him to “Shut the f* up. You are under arrest.”
Ademo Freeman, also known as Adam Mueller was indicted on three felony counts of wiretapping for phone conversations he had with the Manchester Police Department and West High School in Manchester seeking comment about the incident. The content of those phone calls was made public in another video from Freeman.
As this press release from CopBlock.org notes, New Hampshire’s wiretapping laws apply in situations where a party is recorded without their knowledge and in a situation where they have a reasonable expectation of privacy. It has been determined, through other similar cases, that the police have no reasonable expectation of privacy when they are in public and on duty.
It seems that the local officials would simply prefer to punish the messenger and sweep the incident under the rug. Perhaps they would like to make an example of Freeman so other proactive and justifiably concerned citizens don’t pick up their cameras too. But, this simply can’t be allowed to happen.
What can you do to help? You can exercise your rights to film police. You can also spread the word about this case and make sure other people know their rights in regards to filming and recording police while they are on duty.
CopBlock.org provides several resources to spread the word about this case and to get in touch with Freeman directly.
If you are charged with a crime related to recording the police or even resisting an unlawful arrest, we may be able to put you in touch with someone who can help. Contact us today.
About David Matson