He was not even at a border crossing – and the police try to tell you that these searches are “voluntary”. And yes – I consider the gratuitous use of a taser and smashing someone’s face into broken glass to constitute torture. Watch the video:

While this issue is not directly related to photographer’s rights we felt the need to post it here because it shows what happens to people who assert their constitutional rights. Is the Constitution of the United States not worth the paper it is printed on? Have we become a police state? What is next at every county line – an officer stopping us with the command “papieren bitte”. We are NOT as free as we would like to think we are.

The Border Patrol issued a press release which was posted on carlosmiller.com:

The U.S. Border Patrol asked the Arizona Department of Public Safety to assist their Officers with a combative motorist who refused to cooperate at a checkpoint in the westbound lanes of Interstate 8. Steven L. Anderson, the combative motorist, was arrested by a DPS Officer for resisting a lawful order during the incident and booked into the Yuma County Jail.

Mr. Anderson never filed a complaint with DPS concerning his arrest but instead made a You-Tube video that featured his version of the events of that day.

An investigation by the Arizona Department of Public Safety’s Professional Standards Bureau is underway. DPS is looking at current agency policies and procedures that officers must comply with when requested by any agency to respond to checkpoints.

In this particular instance DPS will look at our Officer’s response and actions. We will offer no further comment on this incident until the investigation has been concluded.

*It should be noted that in 1976, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld the constitutionality of Federal checkpoints near border areas to enforce laws prohibiting illegal immigration. This U.S. Border Patrol checkpoint along Interstate 8 is in compliance with federal law.

Forcing someone to open their trunk for inspection without a search warrant is NOT a lawful order, therefore there was no basis for requesting the assistance of the local constabulary. Or did they do it in order to keep their hands clean, knowing that the local cops would brutalize the man?

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