Austin Man Files Suit over Arrest for Filming Police

Taped an encounter between police and a woman

Austin activist Antonio Buehler filed a lawsuit against several members of the Austin Police Department on Dec. 31 for preventing him from filming police behavior — which, according to Buehler, is a violation of his civil rights.

Buehler was first arrested on Jan. 1, 2012 after he filmed, what he described as, a brutal encounter between a woman and APD officers. Buehler said the officers' behavior
surprised him.

"As I saw the cops putting [the woman] into a torture move; it shocked the hell out of me," Buehler said. "I just never imagined I would see that." 

When one of the officers, Patrick Oborski, noticed him filming, Buehler was arrested and charged with failure to obey a lawful order.