Taken into custody.

You said the "P" word...

Until we stop worrying about offending and start worrying about defending .. not much is gonna change.

john-in-japan wrote in post #9325311
Are we not getting ahead of ourselves?
He was NOT arrested - They were NOT the police.
He was asked to delete the photos - he had a choice to make - comply with request or not comply.
No indication of rudeness on anyone's part. If taken from public property, no foul. Where is the beef?
OP had the option to comply or not comply with a request. Over reaction on the part of security - perhaps - perhaps not? OP gives minimal information on what was said, so really can't tell if these were security folks simply trying to do their job or worse. Getting "busted" was not true. Lets get the full story. What was said and what was done?
John

+1

I also feel that some information is being withheld from OP's post as well.

FlyingPhotog wrote in post #9325315
You said the "P" word...

Until we stop worrying about offending and start worrying about defending .. not much is gonna change.

Nothing wrong with profiling people based on where they have visited (Yemen, Pakistan, Afghanistan etc), How they pay (cash), what they bring (no bags) and what list they are on (a terrorist watch list).

The Sikhs who work for me would be grateful if TSA would learn that turbans are not really associated with Islam.

JeffreyG wrote in post #9325349
Nothing wrong with profiling people based on where they have visited (Yemen, Pakistan, Afghanistan etc), How they pay (cash), what they bring (no bags) and what list they are on (a terrorist watch list).

The Sikhs who work for me would be grateful if TSA would learn that turbans are not really associated with Islam.

Agree all the way around...

Karl Johnston wrote in post #9325232
I can see and make out the make of my car in the driveway using google maps....

It didn't take but about 30 seconds to check out the chemical plant I worked in for 33 years. I see the new combined control room is in place (two years old). They also have the north fan shut down on the big cooling tower (used to help control water temps). And my buddy is still asleep in the office with his feet on the desk! Ha! Just kidding!

lankforddl wrote in post #9324297
Security of the refinery. Some in marked cars/clothing and a couple in unmarked. It was crazy how fast the converged on me and on a public street.

They can't take your equipment, or images, and they can ask for the moon...

That's not being busted... and you should have know better then to play around 911 hot spots.
Yes, the FBI still makes house calls, no joke.

Next time ask either the refinery, or contact your local FBI office, and tell them where and when you intend to shoot.
As long as your on public property, your within your rights.
Try not to make others nervous though, as it serves you no purpose.

If you were truly restrained on a public street by a private security force then when are you planning on filing your unlawful restraint complaint? Even if you did not want to cause a confrontation with them on site - why didn't you call the police after you left?

If it happened the way the OP described it, I'd agree that it's over the top. That said, I don't disagree with them actually stopping the OP from taking photographs. All things being equal there nothing to say that the OP was not casing the joint for an attak, and an oil refinery can make a pretty spectacular mess.

As for the 9/11 terrorists blending in, nobody followed up on a bunch of guys who went to a flight school and showed no interest in landing a plane, and everybody ended up feeling pretty stupid after that. Taken from the security guys' point of view, would you want to look dumb for not following up on some guy walking round the refinery with a big camera if an attack did happen?

We sure live in exciting times.

To the OP - Your thread title was "Taken into custody." True or False?
For Blackhawk - +1
John

john-in-japan wrote in post #9325311
Are we not getting ahead of ourselves?
He was NOT arrested - They were NOT the police.
He was asked to delete the photos - he had a choice to make - comply with request or not comply.
No indication of rudeness on anyone's part. If taken from public property, no foul. Where is the beef?
OP had the option to comply or not comply with a request. Over reaction on the part of security - perhaps - perhaps not? OP gives minimal information on what was said, so really can't tell if these were security folks simply trying to do their job or worse. Getting "busted" was not true. Lets get the full story. What was said and what was done?
John

Actually they were being polite as they could have just as easily observed covertly, taped his activities and vehicle + tag, then let 2 FBI field agents drop by a week or so later unannounced for a chat and to look at pictures... which is much more unnerving.

john-in-japan wrote in post #9325544
To the OP - Your thread title was "Taken into custody." True or False?
For Blackhawk - +1
John

exactly...drumming up some drama

NeutronBoy wrote in post #9325017
Sure, it's all ridiculous until something gets blown up ... don't you watch the news? These things are real, people are out there trying to get back at us. We ARE in a war status now and the enemy is in our country. Smell the coffee.

Wow, really? So can we search your house just to make sure we are safe from you.

So wow, this sparked a heated conversation. Here's the info that some posts seem to want to know. I'm a student at the University of Minnesota. I was out on public roads photographing the winter scenery: farm fields, old tractors, and the refinery, etc... While driving down a very public frontage road near highway 52 in Rosemont, MN three security guards on foot flagged me down and surrounded my vehicle with their vehicles. Somewhere between 5-8 security personnel surrounded me and began the questioning. They were just doing what they're told to do, but I did feel very intimidated by their overwhelming presence. I was just happy to get out of there with my several K worth of gear. I was afraid that they were going to confiscate my camera equipment.

do a flickr search on "koch refinery" and there are tons of photos of this place.

lankforddl wrote in post #9325708
three security guards on foot flagged me down and surrounded my vehicle with their vehicles.

So which is it? On foot or in vehicles? Were you "Taken into custody" as you claimed?