Paparazzi Choked!

So I watched this video of a couple of paparazzi (photogs) and I feel the security took this a little too far. These guys were booked and charged. I think who ever hired those security guards are looking at a big fat lawsuit.

http://www.cbsnews.com …esider/entry625​8673.shtml

Wow Im not too big a fan of the paparazzi myself but I think that was too excessive to restrain a photographer.

All of this depends on one thing....ownership of the property. I only skimmed the article, but it looks like it is private property. If so, they should have left. Choking? Not really a choke, but also not the best way to handle it by any means. IMO, they all acted like fools....

I can't really understand why anyone cares about any of these celebrities, but as long as outlets pay for pics, someone's going to shoot them. As for getting tossed...when you are being a nuisance to someone, and you are on their property (if that's the case), it goes with the territory. Did look like a heavy handed "escort" off the property, but maybe they were "asked" to leave. Don't join the army if you can't stand a bit of danger.

Haven't watched the video due to being at work, but a buddy of mine was dragged out of a bar recently in a headlock and the bouncer was booked and charged. It doesn't matter if it's private property; assault and battery is still assault and battery. I hate the paparazzi as much as anyone else, but that doesn't change the fact that the security people committed a crime and the paparazzi didn't as far as I can tell from the description.

MikeI wrote in post #9719342
IMO, they all acted like fools....

No kidding! Paparazzi and security guards! What a great mix of IQ...

If you watch the video, that path they were on was considered public access. Other people besides the paparazzi were walking that path. The guy that was getting choked was walking backwards with his camera +400mm zoom on his shoulders pretty much doing what the security was telling him what to do, when all of a sudden the security guy blew a gasket. The photog might have had a few choice words.

I dunno about in the states, but here you are only allowed to photograph on a public thouroughfare (ie:footpath) if you are not blocking or holding up traffic.

If that area was privately owned, then the security had every right to remove them.

Snappy Go Lucky wrote in post #9725261
I dunno about in the states, but here you are only allowed to photograph on a public thouroughfare (ie:footpath) if you are not blocking or holding up traffic.

If that area was privately owned, then the security had every right to remove them.

There must be a limit to what type of force can be used though. For example, you can grab someone by the arm and escort them out, but putting them in a headlock and dragging them out on their back will land you jail time. I'd find it hard to believe that there aren't laws governing excessive force over in Australia.

I have one question.

If the photographers were arrested for obstructing the walkway or whatever it was, why were the guards trying to stop them walking?

Also, if it's a public walkway, they can't force them to go to one side right?!

Two annoying groups clash...

The black security dude was cool. 8)

For some reason I could not find the video but did see this on the news. I do think this may fall under excessive force especially for a Security Guard and a non-violent crime. ABC made a statement that they were not involved with the security but wouldn't they be since they have the vested interest in delaying any images from the wedding till next week?

Follow up here:
http://x17online.com …ty_smackdown-03012010.php

and here

http://x17online.com …_by_surprise-03022010.php

Seems like they were on public property. The police took the side of security pretty fast (no surprise there). It will be interesting to see what happens in the inevitable lawsuit.

Paparazzi are rats, but they have rights too.

Sorry...had to look up Jason Mesnick and Molly Malaney on Google...
Still have no idea who they are, why anyone would want to photograph them at all, and why any security person would want to be so over-the-top because someone was taking their pictures.

It's a crazy mixed up world....

Hope the security nitwit gets taken to the cleaners on this one....and that the photographers take pictures of interesting people instead.

Everyone wants to be famous, but they don't want their photo taken.

It uses flash and I have a flashblocker add-on. I usually can disable but requires me to right click and the site forbids it. Guess I only get to read the words.