The unlawful arrest of busker Andrew Kalleen, who has been performing in NYC subways for years, has created an outrage online, with his arrest having received over 1,000,000 views on YouTube.
Kalleen was acting completely within the confines of the law to perform at the Lorimer Street-Metropolitan Avenue G-train stop in Williamsburg, but he drew the ire of one cop when he stood up for his rights, who arrested him only for his ‘defiance’.
The cop stated that he needed a permit to perform in the subway systems of New York, which actually isn’t true.
The MTA rules reads as follows:
βThe following nontransit uses are permitted by the Authority, provided they do not impede transit activities and they are conducted in accordance with these rules: public speaking; campaigning; leafletting or distribution of written noncommercial materials; activities intended to encourage and facilitate voter registration; artistic performances, including the acceptance of donations.β
See the full arrest here:
That was the way it appeared to me but from all of these comments wanting the officer fired or imprisoned, I thought I had heard wrong.
All of that artillery I was exposed to over 40 years ago has taken a toll on my hearing. π
The cop is in the wrong. He was reading the MTA rule. And since when do cops arrest someone for permit issues rather than a ticket? It is civil, not criminal. It is obvious from the video the cop was just upset because he was looking like a fool to the spectators. Just another overweight cop who becomes a bully due to a badge. Public servants no more.
Andrew D. Sternke meet another friend of mine Dennis Bridwell. Dennis was sheriff here in my community and prior to that was a police officer in Galveston, TX.
Andrew is an attorney and former Army Ranger Officer and before that was a US Marine Scout Sniper. Andrew is in El Paso I believe.
Lol…keep my resume on the DL! Plus, working as a mediator/consultant, not a nasty attorney π
Still an attorney. And I left out the discussion we had about you going back into military life to earn your trident. π
I should also mention that Dennis served in the Army as well.
I am not familiar with New York State Law, I know in Texas it would be considered a criminal act albeit a very minor one probably a Class C misdemeanor to do something such as vending without a permit so unless the laws have changed since I retired, a person could be arrested for a low grade misdemeanor there but New York may be different. As I said before, if the state law prohibits pandering for tips without a permit, the MTA rules cannot overrule a state law much like if Lawrence County passed a country ordinance saying Marijuana Possession was legal, it would still be against the Illinois state law.
Know your rights and stand up for them!
If you aren’t willing to fight for your rights –
You don’t deserve them & will probably soon lose them!
No wonder why we don’t like cop!