Wingham Cop Watch Kicked Out Of Town Hall For Recording Police Violating Rights

At the 02Aug2016 North Huron council meeting town staff cut off the audio and video feed to council chambers then proceeded to violate the Constitutional Rights of the Public/Press Gallery.

At least one member of Wingham Cop Watch was in attendance to video document if/when the police showed up. Once the police arrived “Mr. X” started recording for everyone’s protection.

Constable Verhaeghe of the Wingham police service approached Mr. X of Wingham Cop Watch and demanded that he stop recording or leave the building. According to the Sunshine list Constable Bryan Verhaeghe makes $101,079.27/year serving the Public in this manner.

Mr. X’s was not violating any law, not even council’s procedural by-law, yet he was forced to leave.

Facts:

Mr. X was only in attendance to record the police if/when they showed up.

Mr. X was recording when the meeting was adjourned, which IS allowed. Recording is only prohibited when the meeting is in active session according to them and their by-law.

Mr. X was recording the police which everyone has the legal Right to do.

Mr. X was silent and keeping the peace.

Mr. X was in the Public Gallery of a Public meeting in a Public building.

Transcript of Wingham Cop Watch getting kicked out of Town Hall.

Cop: “Mr. X are you recording right now?”

Mr. X: “Yep.”

Cop “ok, you’ll either have to turn that off or you will have to leave.”

Mr. X: “So you are saying I have to either turn it off of leave”

Cop: ”yes”

Mr. X: “I don’t think so.”

Cop: “Which do you prefer”.

Mr. X “I don’t think the police can intervene on a political issue.”

Cop: “Well, we CAN on a trespassing issue”.

Mr. X “Then who is going to trespass? This is a Public place”.

Cop: “I will give you a second … Mr. X.”

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