This is one of those situations where you have to ask yourself, was it worth it or not? Before I give you my answer, here is the photographer’s side of the story courtesy of Photographyisnotacrime.com.
Taylor Hardy was in the Allapattah neighborhood trying to photograph the filming of the commercial when a member of the production crew ordered him to stop taking photos.
Hardy said there were about 25 other people standing there watching the filming of the commercial who were not taking pictures, so he asserted his rights to stand there with the others who were not being harassed.
The production crew member then called over a nearby Miami-Dade police sergeant, who at first appeared to shrug his shoulders, but then ordered Hardy to walk down the street, so we can assume he was working off-duty for the production company as a hired goon.
Hardy told the cop he had as much right to be there as the other people, which prompted the cop to grab his camera by the flash in an attempt to take it from him.
Hardy told the cop to let go of his camera. The cop told him that if he didn’t let go of his camera, he would go to jail.
“‘If you say one more f*cking word, I’m going to throw your head on the ground and beat the f*ck out of you,’” Taylor quoted the cop as saying.
Taking the story at face value, the photographer who is currently in jail, had every right to stand there and the cop abused him authority (not unusual).
Was it worth going to go to jail for to prove your point, probably not, but I can respect anyone who doesn’t want to be bully and harassed by the police.
Hopefully, the charges are dropped. LeBron is the Golden Child of Miami, from Police Escorts to shutting down the beach for Nike commercials, if you didn’t know before, you know now.
H/T @BillyCorben