Police Arrest Man For Filming Officer Tazing A Handcuffed Man

(Image Courtesy of Waldo Police Department)

If you are in North Florida passing through the small town of Waldo, and should you see the police handcuff a man and then taze him while he is laying face down on the ground, and think to yourself this would make a great YouTube video, you better think again. You might end up in jail.

That is exactly what happened in the video below.

The man, a local town resident who sounds like he has no love for the police department in Waldo and in particular the arresting officer that is also the Police Chief, is standing well away from the scene and behind a parked car, but Police Chief Mike Szabo still thinks that is not good enough. Even though he is approximately 40 feet away, behind a car, and not presenting himself in a threatening manner at all, the Police Chief yells at him to get in his car. When the guy filming does not - and here is where I think he was being stupid for not following the instructions of the officer (Even if he was wrong) - He ends up looking at asphalt with a knee on his neck.

I am a huge supporter of the police departments all over the country, but they are not perfect. I think many of these photography harassment charges and claims are bogus and set up by people with a chip on their shoulder. But in this case it is clear. They were wrong.

EDIT: After looking at the video, and searching the internet, I see no video proof of the person posting the original video that the man was tazed while laying on the ground. He may have been, but there is no video to support that claim. I see no evidence of any wrong doing of the officer making the arrest. Now the police chief, on the other hand.... That part seems clear.