Seattle Dude Arrested for Taking ATM Photo, and for Being Cryptic

While we don't doubt Becker's innocent intentions (apparently, he snapped the photo out of sheer curiosity), what got the idiot arrested was likely not the photo, as he claims, but his refusal to cooperate with the understandably suspicious employees tasked with filling the machine with cash.
Instead, when asked by the Loomis employees to come over and talk for a moment, Becker refused to cooperate in any discussion and would not hand over his ID to anyone: not the Loomis guys, REI security staff, or the police. This eventually forced the hand of the officer on the scene, who had to cuff Becker and take him in.
Becker's argument -- that ATM photos and information about their workings are easily available online -- makes sense, but his failure to understand any point of view other than his own narrow, deluded one is pretty inexcusable.
You can check out Shane's own account here, which, even when filtered through his own self-righteous perspective, still makes him look like a jerk. Are we being too judgmental? What do you think? [From: iamshane.com, Via: BoingBoing]





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Comments
12
Subscribe to commentsMadMikeMay 12th 2009 4:54PM
Figures, stupid hippies.
letstakeawalkMay 12th 2009 5:34PM
Anyone know what he was actually charged with? The ATM was in a public space, so there is no expectation of privacy there.
I assume he was arrested because of his refusal to identify himself, or more likely, disturbing the peace.
KenMay 12th 2009 6:46PM
Refusal to ID himself sound right, people like this should leave this country if they can't follow the law or comply with authorities. Freedom give us the right to question authorities or whatever these anarchists do, but if another person raises concern about your action, then the other person ( in this case, the atm workers ) have the same right as you to ask you to identify yourself for their security purposes.
Stop these hippies before they destroy America
V 4 VendettaMay 13th 2009 10:05PM
Bridges are in public too. Don't get caught taking pictures of them close up. Example,NY Verazanno. There are signs warning you not to take pictures.
Send the the hippie to G-bay, Cuba.
sidsinatraMay 12th 2009 6:39PM
I don't think he's being a jerk at all. Sounds like the Loomis pretend-cops were on some sort of power trip. It's perfectly legal to take pictures of events that occur in public spaces. Everybody needs to stop taking themselves so seriously. If filling an atm is such secret business, maybe the people doing it should shield themselves from view. It's not the responsibility of random people in a store to look the other way.
sidsinatraMay 12th 2009 6:51PM
Ken-
Those Loomis workers don't have any right, legal or otherwise, to demand i.d. from anybody. They are not "authorities"; they are regular people performing a regular job. It's perfectly o.k. to refuse to identify yourself to people who aren't the police.
HELLMay 12th 2009 9:08PM
Don'tcha just LOVE rental cops. Or, as my son called them at 11, Bacos (not real bacon - hehehe)! I don't believe they had any right trying to get his ID. For a cell phone picture? Even if he WAS up to something, how the hell much detail could really come of it?
This guy is NOT a jerk. He stood up for himself. I believe I would do the same if in the same situation. If more of us acted like him, we'd maybe regain a few of our lost freedoms.
I hope he cancelled his order for that part he stood in line for. I know I'll never shop REI - any of their locations.
raddatzMay 13th 2009 12:17AM
I believe in most areas of the US y
raddatzMay 13th 2009 12:24AM
You may not have to provide ID to private citizens but I do believe that in most parts of the US you do have to provide identification to the police when asked.
looperboy99May 13th 2009 1:17PM
The ATM was not in a "public space." It was in an REI store. And unless the City of Seattle or the State of Washington or any other public entity owns this store, then it was on private property.
FishingnutMay 14th 2009 1:29AM
Just to clear up a few things about this case. Shane has been trespassed from the Seattle REI store for shoplifting here previously so he was trespassing to begin with. He also was very defiant when the police asked for identification which if he wasn't doing anything wrong is a huge mistake. His idea of being a martyr for the cause is simply his sorry excuse of trying to get publicity. Shane was giving the cops an attitude and was not complying with the cops so for him to say that they violated his rights is nuts. Just follow along and quit being a moron.
JamiMay 15th 2009 7:05PM
Ok, Shane is a jackass. I would have arrested him as well.