MARYLAND – A chilling video of Maryland police silencing an innocent student who was  recording the arrests of two other people has civil libertarians outraged.

The arrests were made at night on the streets of Towson, Maryland. A  University of Maryland-Baltimore County student who witnessed the arrests  decided to record them using his cell phone. The student, 21-year-old Sergio  Gutierrez, was soon approached by officers who objected — wrongly — to his  actions.

Gutierrez repeatedly told the officers that he knew he had the right to film  them, but the cops were prepared to use any excuse to shut him down. First they  told him that he was hampering their investigation, even though he was standing  well enough away while the arrests were being made.

Still, the student maintained that he was in the right.

“I am allowed to film,” said Gutierrez.

The cops told him that he was diverting their attention and that he had to  leave. When Gutierrez persisted, they told him that he would be arrested if he  did not stop recording.

“I thought I had freedom of speech here,” he said.

The cop’s answer? “You don’t. You just lost it. Walk away and keep your mouth  shut.” (read more)