6/21/2016 City Of Greer

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Greer police "will continue tovigilantly protect"communityCity Attorney John Duggan has issued astatement regarding a June 15 incident inwhich an individual was charged withinterfering with police.

Our country and our communities and the law enforcement agencies which protect them arefacing a triple threat including: (1) mass shootings; (2) terrorists threats; and, (3) targeting oflaw enforcement officers.

On Wednesday, June 15, 2016, just three days after the worst mass shooting in US history, theGreer Police Department was notified that an individual was videotaping the Municipal Court/Police Department building and the adjoining parking lot from both Main and Miller streets. Inaddition to police vehicles, police officers, police department and municipal court staff, andmembers of the public park their personal vehicles in this lot.

At this particular time, city court was taking place and many citizens attending court had alsoparked in this lot. Because of security concerns, three officers responded. They repeatedlyasked the individual to provide identification and an explanation why he was videotaping thisarea. The individual, later identified to be Diante Valentine, would not answer and continued tovideotape the parking lot area. This heightened the security concerns of the officers.

Because Mr. Valentine would not respond, he was taken into custody in order to determine hisidentity and the motives for videotaping the building and the cars in the parking lot.Subsequently, it was learned that he was doing this in a pre­planned effort to “bait” the policedepartment in hopes that it would evoke a response which could be used to create acontroversy concerning the conduct of the law enforcement officers. He had previously donethis at the Greenville Sheriff’s Department. And, it was also learned that he posted the videosof these incidents on you­tube under his channel called “First Amendment Audit.”

The videos of this incident are posted on the police department website and may be viewed bythe public. After the police identified Mr. Valentine and determined the reason why he wasvideotaping this area he was charged with interfering with police and released two and a halfhours later.

It is unfortunate that, in this time of heightened security concerns for all of us and for lawenforcement agencies in particular, Mr. Valentine chose to do this. It is also regrettable that hechose not to provide his name or address or reveal the reason for his behavior. He could have

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6/21/2016 City Of Greer

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chosen to provide his name and address and the reason for his actions when questioned bythe officers. He also could have notified the department before he started videotaping the areaand the reason therefor. Had he chosen to do either, this incident could have been avoided.

The Greer Police Department is constantly training to prepare for all kinds of security incidents.It will use this incident to train its officers concerning ways and methods to deal with situationslike this and to ensure that our community is as safe as possible.

In the event Mr. Valentine should sue, the city and the police department will vigorously defendthe lawsuit. The Greer Police Department will continue to vigilantly protect the safety andsecurity of our community.

John Duggan City Attorney City of Greer, South Carolina

Greer PD Body Cam Video

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Diante Valentine Video

1st amendment audit Greer police department South Car...

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