YouTuber Regan Benson raged on a live stream for nearly two hours Saturday afternoon after reading a new sign posted on the doors of the Englewood, Colorado, Civic Center that essentially bans recording without permission in city buildings.
The new guidelines, signed by Englewood City Manager Shawn Lewis, essentially ban all video recording within eight feet of the entrance to any building owned by the city of Englewood. It also bans recording of others inside the buildings without the consent of everyone who is being recorded.
Benson fumed as she read that the guidelines apply to both the Englewood City Hall, the Pirate Cove recreational center and the Englewood Police Station. Exceptions to the rules come within public meetings, still photography, recording of city law enforcement or public safety officers, security cameras, in areas rented out by a private party, or where recording is not prohibited by a court order.
Promising federal court challenges, Benson seemed almost giddy as she lingered on the three posted pages on the door to the Englewood public library. Focusing briefly on the section of the directive telling employees to be courteous and professional while dealing with someone recording in violation of the guidelines.
According to the printed instructions employees are to escalate to a superior if filming continues and to only escalate to the police should illegal activity or a safety concern occur in their presence.
Recording constitutes a “level 1” violation of Englewood’s policy guidelines and may result in an exclusion or ejection from the building.
Benson pointed out that under the new guidelines, which take effect on Monday, October 28, 2024, Allied Security Guards will now be used as enforcers and will be forced to eject those who are recording in violation of the guidelines.
While police and public workers can still be recorded within buildings owned by the city, Benson questioned the constitutionality of the posted guidelines and again promised to challenge the guidelines with a federal lawsuit.
While driving over to the Englewood Police Department, Benson updated the status of Zeph Pinkerly, who was arrested at last week’s Englewood City Council meeting.
Benson claimed that Pinkerly was again arrested at the Englewood Police Department on Friday when he arrived early in the morning to check on a problem with an expired tag on his car.
Pinkerly said that he was in a hurry when he contacted dispatch over the phone set up in the lobby of the building. There was a delay as no officers were available to help him immediately, and, according to Benson’s account of the events, Pinkerly was arrested after making two more calls to dispatch from the phone.
Pinkerly was apparently charged with harassment and has received a 120-day exclusion notice from the Englewood Police Department.
Benson noted that Pinkerly was working full time and was on the verge of homelessness and that his boss bailed him out after he was taken into custody.
The directive indicated that Englewood respect the first amendment, but has to make the changes based on those who were abusing the first amendment in order to make a profit.
