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“Stop F***ing Filming and Help me!”: Security Guard Casually Videotapes Officer’s Struggle With A Suspect

jonathanturley
download-3There was a truly bizarre scene in Houston this week when a police officer was on the ground struggling with a man who he said was trying to grab his gun.  A security officer circled the scene filming with her cellphone until the officer screamed “Stop f***ing filming and help me!”  Instead, she continued to videotape the scene as the officer screamed that the man was trying to kill him.  The security guard was later fired.

The officer is heard screaming “Help me!” and “he’s trying to kill me” to the security officer.  One man did try to help the officer but not the security officer.The encounter occurred on August 20th with Davon Shavelle Miller, 17.  Miller ran from his vehicle only to be tackled by the officer.  One bystander screamed at Miller to “stop resisting” as the officer and the other man sought to restrain him.  The officer is also heard screaming “Stop grabbing my cuffs! Let go of my f–king cuffs!”

The officer is also heard telling people “film me.”

When the officer says Miller is trying to kill him, one female bystander screams “He’s not gonna kill you . . . We all out here with cameras!”

 

The security guard then left the scene without ever providing assistance.

I find the security guard’s conduct (and frankly everyone standing around) to be shocking and disgraceful.  I cannot imagine coldly videotaping such a struggle while an officer calls for help.  However, unlike police officers who are expected to act even when off-duty in the face of crime, this is a private security guard.  Is it fair to fire someone for failing to be a good Samaritan or put themselves at risk when they are off duty? This is not to say that the company cannot fire an at will employee for “good cause, bad cause, or no cause at all.”  However, we have previously discussed the firing of employees for exercising their free speech or associational rights outside of their employment.  Is an employee, even a security officer, required to be brave or selfless in their personal lives?

What do you think?

 

 

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