By Police1 Staff
ROCHESTER, N.Y. — Prosecutors dismissed a charge Monday against a woman who was arrested while filming a police encounter because she was concerned it was initiated by racial profiling, according to CNN.
During a press conference this afternoon, Police Chief James Sheppard said facts didn’t support the charge against Emily Good, 28, of Rochester, New York. He didn’t go into detail on two ongoing internal reviews related to the case, and said he supported both the traffic stop as well as arresting officer Mario Masic’s “professional demeanor,” according to the Rochester City Newspaper.
Sheppard released a joint statement along with Rochester’s mayor and city council president:
“Whatever the outcome of the internal review, we want to make clear that it is not the policy or practice of the Rochester Police Department to prevent citizens from observing its activities — including photographing or videotaping — as long as it does not interfere with the safe conduct of those activities.”
The incident was one of several recent cases involving activists filming police activities who were arrested after refusing to comply with orders to stop.
“I’m feeling vindicated, I’m feeling energetic,” said Good, who is planning a civil suit.