Anne Arundel County Police Officer Scott Wolford was called to assist citizens with a dispute, instead, he had an issue with his activities being documented, tried to snatch a cell phone and is now suspended. All this happened in Severn area of unincorporated Anne Arundel County, Maryland on Saturday, August 5, 2017, after having a dispute with a customer Elias Crespo Tejada and his co-worker requested assistance from the police. Officer Scott Wolford arrives and Tejada started documenting, after explaining to Wolford why he was summoned, Wolford then explains the law was not on their side and the law protects the bad guys. Then out of the blue, as if he just woke up Wolford notices Tejada recording and say
“Are you recording me? That’s really nice,” the officer is seen saying to Tejada.
Tejada then tells the officer, “I’m in my right.” The Wolford responds by mimicking what the Tejada said.
“I’m in my right to do that – for my company,” Tejada told Wolford
Wolford then asks Tejada by saying, “Let me see that real quick,” before apparently attempting to grab the device out of his hands. However, after Wolford is unable to take the recording device, Wolford is then seen getting into his police vehicle before the video ends.
Anne Arundel County police said in a news release that “members of the general public have a First Amendment right to video record, photograph, and/or audio record officers while they are conducting official business in any public space unless such recordings interfere with police activity.”
“The Anne Arundel County Police are 100% committed to providing courteous service and protecting the rights of the citizens we serve,” said Anne Arundel County Police Chief Timothy Altomare. “When we see these standards not being met, we will deal with violations of our policies forthrightly and with integrity. We are doing so in this case.”
The police spokesperson says the Internal Affairs Unit is investigating the incident while Wolford’s police powers have been suspended.
