After being pulled over, the deputies explained to Jewell that the reason for the traffic stop was “an improper hand gesture,” and accused him of receiving fellatio from his girlfriend, who Jewell says was asleep in the passenger seat.
The officers claimed that they were unfamiliar with the 2013 Supreme Court ruling that flipping the bird at an officer is "ancient gesture of insult" and "is not the basis for a reasonable suspicion of a traffic violation or impending criminal activity."
“You were just flicking us off,” an officer states.
“I don’t think a tank should be driving down my streets,” the man replies.
“Thats not a tank, thats an armoured vehicle, thats not a tank,” the officer continues.
The officer then tells the man that he cannot point his camera phone at him, because there are “firearms that are made of devices like that,” further assaulting this man’s rights, as filming the police is protected under the First Amendment- as long as the person is not interfering with an investigation.
“Members of the public are legally allowed to record police interactions,” a memo sent out to NYPD officers in August stated. “Intentional interference such as blocking or obstructing cameras or ordering the person to cease constitutes censorship and also violates the First Amendment.”
Before being issued a warning and allowed to leave the scene, the sight of a vehicle meant for war pulling over a civilian had began to draw a crowd. Seeing the spectators gathering, Jewell asked the witnesses, “Tell me what a police state looks like? This is what a police state looks like!”
Jewell has also alleged that one of the deputies punched him after he got out of his vehicle. An ASO report on the incident was not immediately available, as it is part of an “active investigation,” an official told The Gainesville Sun.
