A New Jersey cop who did not appreciate being video recorded by a 15-year-old boy threatened to steal the teen’s camera forever.
“Turn that video camera off right now or it’s going to be mine forever,” the Hanover Township police officer said, obviously knowing he was being recorded, but dumb enough not to care.
The cop is not named in the ABC Local story but I’ve contacted the teen through Facebook in the hopes of obtaining it.
After all, a cop that stupid needs to be exposed.
As it is now, the cop is being sued for the incident that took place several months ago.
It started when Austin DeCaro and friends were hanging out with friends in a public park after dark, which was against a municipal ordinance.
According to [**ABC Local:**](http://abclocal.go.com/wabc/story?section=news/investigators&id=8826452)
> They say they had no idea there was a park curfew, a black car drove up, and a cop in plainclothes confronted them.
> “I gave him my name and he realized I had a camera and he said, ‘turn that off.’” DeCaro said.
> “Turn that video camera off right now or it’s going to be mine, forever,” the officer said on the video.
> “Why?” DeCaro is heard asking.
> “And I asked why, and he tackled me to the ground, handcuffed me, threw my camera, and arrested me,” DeCaro said.
> The camera, down on the ground, still recorded the sound.
> “Why are you being so mean?” DeCaro is heard saying on the video.
The cop was going to charge the teens with vandalism, obstruction and being in the park after dark.
But DeCaro’s father showed the video to Hanover Township Police Chief Stephen Gallagher, who reduced the charges to breaking curfew in the park.
He should have dropped the charges entirely out of consideration for the bullying officer on his staff.
He can be reached at (973) 428-2512 if you would like to urge him to do so.
**UPDATE:** The cop’s name is most likely Joseph Quinn, according to [**Justia.com.**](http://photographyisnotacrime.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/274471)
If anybody has a subscription to PACER, please provide us a copy of the suit.
Here is a [**LinkedIn page**](http://www.linkedin.com/pub/joe-quinn/49/979/749) from a Joe Quinn who is also a cop in the same town.
**UPDATE II**: Here is a copy of [**the lawsuit**](http://www.pixiq.com/sites/default/files/hanover_cop.pdf).
*Please send stories, tips and videos to* [***carlosmiller@magiccitymedia.com***](mailto:carlosmiller@magiccitymedia.com)*.*
