MEMPHIS, Tenn. — A Memphis man who was arrested while recording video of a police investigation faces a disorderly conduct charge.
Otis Porter posted video on Facebook of his arrest that day.
As the camera begins rolling near a squad car, an officer asks the person recording to get on the sidewalk as he’s standing in the middle of the street.
The officer then says sidewalks are made for walking, and the man should keep moving.
Several seconds later it appears the man recording is involved in some sort of tussle during which he drops the camera.
When it is picked back up, officers are standing around a man on the ground placing him under arrest.
An MPD report indicates police were in the 1700 block of Childers Ave. in Frayser on April 21 investigating a robbery inside a house.
The officer says Porter was repeatedly asked to step out of the street and then was told to move down the sidewalk as it was part of the crime scene, although no crime scene cordon is seen in the video. The officer says Porter was hindering the investigation.
The officer says Porter was taken into custody and led to a police cruiser where an officer said he tried to search him, including taking his cell phone.
The officer says Porter resisted arrest and was pushed down onto the ground and other officers had to assist. He was taken to the hospital for injuries he suffered during the arrest.
Memphis police confirm they are investing the officer’s actions that day. WREG saw other officers in an unmarked car in the neighborhood on Wednesday.
Neighbors said those officers were asking about the incidents the day the video was recorded.
