Austin Officer Who Blocked Activist From Filming Traffic Stop Suspended

AUSTIN, TX — An officer with the Austin Police Department has been suspended without pay for 20 days after blocking an activist from recording a traffic stop scene, officials confirmed.

The incident stems from an interaction police had with activist Phillip Turner, who makes a habit of recording police in holding them accountable. A prolific videographer, Turner has had similar interactions with police in Round Rock and Fort Worth while filming, a court in the latter city ruling in his favor of him against that police force.

In the November Austin incident, Turner, 27, was filming a traffic stop when officers inhibited his recording by blocking his view physically and by shining their flashlights directly into his camera lens. The suspended officer, James Maufrais, has been with the police department for four years. Another officer, Jesse Lane, was previously suspended for 10 days.

Former Austin Police Chief Art Acevedo, who has since taken the chief's post in Houston, categorized the officers' actions as "self-inflicted stupidity," noting that while Turner has a penchant for filming law enforcement, he invariably does so in a respectful, unobtrusive manner.

Given the level of attention the incident generated, Acevedo staged a press conference detailing his stance on the matter:

An attorney representing Maufrais told KXAN he believes the punishment against his client is too harsh. He cited the officer's recent military stint as justification for his behavior in blocking the activist.

“He completely admitted to it, I think [there are] some mitigating factors that should’ve been taken into consideration and probably weren’t,” Brad Heilman, the attorney, said. “He was only on the streets for less than eight months after getting back from Afghanistan and being put on the streets," the lawyer added. "He’s just not used to someone recording him in such a short vicinity.”

The idea of filming police at crime scenes or traffic stops has become a polarizing issue against the dual backdrops of heightened attention to police brutality or overreach (on which groups like Black Lives Matter have cast a spotlight) and that of an opposing camp expressing unconditional support for law enforcement.

Turner's mixed results in court stemming from past recordings illustrate the mixed feelings as it relates to the issue of recording police. Last month, a federal judge ruled in Turner's favor against Fort Worth police, the court reiterating an established right to film law enforcement officials. But in Round Rock, there was a partial victory: While a court ruled officers there violated Turner's freedom of speech and engaged in illegal seizure after he was handcuffed and detained while filming outside the cop shop in 2014 a claim of excessive force was thrown out.

A third suit against the APD centered on Turner's filming outside the APD's north substation last October is pending.

Tuner uploaded on YouTube video of his November interaction with police. Watch it below:

Related stories:

Austin Police Under Investigation After Preventing Activist From Filming Traffic Stop

Judge Rules Lawsuit Against Round Rock Police Can Proceed: VIDEO

Man Sues Officers Who Handcuffed Him For Filming A North Austin Police Substation

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