Take a Pic of a State Trooper and get arrested-WTF

**Jstglockem** · 12-22-2009, 12:28 AM

WTF- Really,

Dec. 21, 2009

LITIGATION ROUND UP: Police Car Photography Suit Filed

By Tony Rutherford
Huntingtonnews.net Reporter

Huntington, WV (HNN) -- Taking a picture of a police and/or security officer in Charleston has led to a Kanawha Circuit Court complaint against the West Virginia State Police.

Filed December 7, the complaint alleges that on September 23, Michael Kidd observed multiple state police cars parked illegally on Goshorn Street and one of the cars was in a handicap parking space. When Kidd attempted to take a photo of one of the cruisers, a Trooper allegedly confronted him and placed him against the wall of a building and told him to keep his hands against the wall. He remained in that position for about 15 minutes, the complaint states.

The suit asserts that when asked by the officer what he was doing, the would-be photographer stated “photographing illegally parked police cars.”

However, an award-winning videographer has threatened legal action after he was arrested for taking a picture at Charleston Town Center of a child on Santa’s lap. Scott Rensberger has first filed a complaint with the Charleston Police Department.

The photo journalist deleted the child’s photo, but had also taken photos of a choir to send to his girl friend in Washington D.C. However, both mall security and CPD became involved. The journalist claims he tried to take a photo of one officer and the officer tried to block him from taking the picture and attempted to grab his camera.

Rensberger has been charged with battery on a police officer and resisting arrest.

**SpeedUp** · 12-22-2009, 12:31 AM

Kinda surprising. Most WV state troopers are laid back and usually have cut all of us breaks up at school...same with the Morgantown city police force. Oh well. There's always some bad apples for every good one.

**Jstglockem** · 12-22-2009, 02:06 AM

I totally agree. Any of them that I have ran into have been nothing but cool and laid back. Country fed on what I am not sure. But usually very large and polite.