Dude, Where’s My Phone?
My phone was lost or stolen by someone employed at the Manchester, NH police department.
On June 4th, I was one of eight arrested (a ninth individual was also ticketed) while at a pro-police accountability rally outside the Manchester NH police department. Many of us arrested (and some not arrested), had our cameras and phones taken from us by individuals wearing “Manchester Police Department” badges. No one was given a receipt despite our requests (knowing the unaccountability of government bureaucracies).
Three months later captain Bob Cuhna disclosed that Manchester PD does NOT have a policy mandating that such a commonsensical action occur. Manchester PD apparently puts more emphasis on seizing (stealing) property than safeguarding the private property of others.
After being without my phone, video camera and point-and-click camera for seven weeks (all vital equipment for me as an indie journalist) I was told I could come pick up my property (search warrants had been applied for and granted and contents had been copied from all devices and many hoops had been jumped through). I went to the cop shop and left with 2/3 of my property – my phone was absent.
So what recourse do I have?
I can make this whole situation transparent. That’s essentially the main tactic we here at Cop Block advocate – when ideas and actions aren’t censored individuals are free to reach their own conclusions. Video shows that I did have my phone on my person at the June 4th event and there’s plenty of documentation that shows that in addition to the camera and video camera, I also sought the return of my phone.
Do you work at Manch PD? Do you know what happened to my phone? Please do the right thing and let me know. Thanks in advance. This situation not only burdened my work output but me financially – the cost of the phone (and replacement – I picked-up a used phone from a friend) and the couple months of service (which I had paid per conversations with Manch PD personnel – thinking I’d soon receive my phone back). But perhaps that was the intention…
More:
http://copblock.org/manchpd
http://www.copblock.org/manchmeeting
http://copblock.org/chalk
