In Berkeley Ask Not For Whom The Bust Tolls

EMBEDDED SOUTH SIDE

By Ted Friedman/Berkeley ReporterSept. 28, 2013
First person:
The bust almost tolled for me, Thursday, as I was threatened thrice with arrest.

The Berkeley Daily Planet has published numerous of my shots that were more problematic than this, but this time I was threatened with arrest ("if you shoot again, you'll wind up in the back seat of my [squad] car," the BPD officer said.

I was crossing Channing Way and stopping for a cop car. 

Then I was photographing outside Pappy's Sports Bar and Grill as Berkeley police came to the assistance of an apparently mentally ill woman who was down on the walk.

The downed woman complained about my camera and a BPD officer reacted.

I moved out of view of the woman in distress and shot from the street, risking a jay-walking beef, but the officer pursued me.
 "If you keep this up, I'll put you in the back seat of my car," the officer warned.
The officer was relentless. "I'm going into Pappy's," (for the Niner's game), I said. "If you come out with your camera," the officer threatened, "I'll put you in the back seat of my car."

So I shot from inside.
Anyone who has read me here knows I'm a BPD fan.

Then why did I continue to shoot?

For the same reason that cops must pull a gun when necessary. I shoot first and ask myself questions later. 
What if cops were afraid to reach for their guns? That's why I reach for my camera first, and begin shooting instinctively.
 
I was so busy being threatened with arrest, I was unable to get the story.

On the way home I met up with an officer who was there. He reassured me that I was not out of line and gave me a "general" account of what happened.

According to the officer, the woman needing assistance was accused of throwing something at someone. "but this could not be confirmed."
She was, according to the officer, possibly taken to Alta Bates Emergency.

I watched the Niner's at Pappy's after continuing to shoot from inside.

For what it's worth, I commend the officer who threatened me.
He was doing his job, but so was I.______________________Follow Ted Friedman at berkeleyreporter.com  and in Berkeley Times (South Side Tales). More photos of the incident at Berkboy Photo Stream