Charlotte County Deputies served a warrant today on Ian McGuire, accusing him of three counts of Harassing a Witness, two counts of Obstruction of Justice, and Breach of the Peace. McGuire showed up at an investigation in April and started filming deputies who were searching a warrant. They’d have a hard time charging him with anything related to that, due to his First Amendment protections. However, he took it a step farther by stepping into the crime scene area, arguing with Deputies, and allegedly mocking witnesses that were speaking to deputies. He has a First Amendment right to film public interactions, but he may have crossed the line if his words or actions interfered with the deputies’ lawful investigations (they were responding to a report of an aggravated battery). McGuire posted a 19 minute video of the incident, online. McGuire has previously been in the news for his activism.
I’ve watched the persecution of this guy on YouTube for the last several months. It doesn’t take a law degree to realize that he is being retaliated against by the police due to the fact he is exposing them on his channel. I get that he makes people and civil servants feel uncomfortable by his actions, but railroading a guy for constitutionally protected activities should send a chill down the spines of all citizens. Thanks for perpetuating the view that southerners are ignorant and intolerant.