Was the dunkin donuts being robbed? Why would so many cops show up with shotguns and shit for a dude with a camera.

I know they hate that shit but it kinda seems like overkill.

"Uh guys we need everyone here officer has been shot...by a camera...send everyone" or maybe a slight exaggeration. Not saying you're lying

I think it depends where you live but as long as you remain calm and polite and let the officer know he is being recorded he can't really do anything about it. Atleast around here.

If all that really did go down like that and they did take your phone and do all that stuff I would definitely get a lawyer and see what can be down about these officers. You obviously had witnesses being in a coffee shop and behavior like this from police is becoming more and more of a problem.

I'm lucky I wasnt hurt and only my rights to free speech and unreasonable search was violated.

Technically they are aloud to pat you down for weapons if they are talking to you.."for their safety" which is fair enough. But this works 2 ways, say you have weed or drugs and they pat you down for weapons and feel the baggie. Legally they cannot go into your pocket and take that out. Because it is obviously not a weapon .

They can then ask what is that I feel....to which I'd respond "not a weapon, have I committed any crimes or am I free to go" if they go in your pocket and take it out. That is illegal search and seizure and you'll probably get your shit dropped.

Now...if you are being arrested already and not just being questioned and pre searched for "weapons" they then can search you and remove the drugs ect...but most of the time they do not have a reason to arrest you yet and the person being patted down for weapons slips up and says...oh just a little weed, or something else stupid before they are even in trouble and bam...busted.

Might not work in every state but I believe around here that is how it works. So don't be fooled by the "weapons pat down" tactic