Van Kuyk's professor had armed him with a Nikon D40 digital camera and the knowledge that he had the legal right to snap photos anywhere within the public domain.
Van Kuyk, 24, ended up getting a crash course on what happens when police don't want to be photographed, he said.
He and two of his Point Breeze neighbors say a police officer forced Van Kuyk to the ground, jamming his face into the sidewalk, and handcuffed and arrested him after he began photographing a March 14 traffic stop on his block.
near Dickinson, when two officers stopped a neighbor who had just parked in front of his house. Van Kuyk grabbed the Nikon and began taking photos. The cops ordered him out of the street, and he moved to the sidewalk. A cop pushed him to the ground, prompting a neighbor to call 9-1-1.
Feighan, fearing that the camera would break, took it from Van Kuyk. Then the cops arrested her on misdemeanor charges.
Police confiscated the camera and held Van Kuyk and Feighan in jail overnight, detaining Van Kuyk for nearly 24 hours. Upon release, Van Kuyk learned he was charged with hindering apprehension - a felony - and four misdemeanors. The felony charge later was dropped.
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| Photo taken on South 17th Street, near Dickenson, in Point Breeze on March 14, 2012.… |
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