Mac Loc: Pittsburgh, Philadelphia now Hernando Co. Fl.

This is a copy of a Facebook post by the Hernando County.Fl. Sheriff's Dept.
Now, it seems, we not only have to sorry about coronavirus, but also overprotective, crazed parents.


The HCSO has received numerous inquiries via telephone and social media regarding a Facebook post that was created by a citizen on 03-13-20 just before 11PM.
The title of the Facebook post was PLEASE READ AND BE AWARE – MY SON WAS ALMOST KIDNAPPED. The body of the lengthy post provided details regarding the “suspect” a “suspect vehicle” and many other things. The incident was said to have occurred at Pine Island Park earlier in the day.
Obviously, anyone reading this post, which was shared over 750 times, would be concerned.
Sheriff Al Nienhuis confirms that an Attempted Abduction DID NOT OCCUR at Pine Island Park, or at any other location.
The person who posted the information became alarmed upon observing what she believed was a Suspicious Person (male) in the park. The male was taking photos of the beach and the sunset. The male then began walking around the park and walked a little too close to her and her children. She immediately got between the male and her children (thinking he may try to take one of them or cause harm to her family). The male continued on his way toward the concession stand. The concerned mother left the park with her children.
Before leaving the park, she stopped to tell another mother that a Suspicious Person (said male) was walking in the park and she should be aware.
We are thankful this mom took appropriate action when she perceived danger, leaving the area and notifying another mom to be careful. As always, we encourage everyone to remain vigilant at all times and to call law enforcement if and when needed.
Deputies did locate the Suspicious Person the next day. He was merely at the park to take photos of the beach area and the sunset (he is from a northern state and doesn’t have a beach). He readily offered his phone to deputies to examine. The only photos of this area were of the beach and the beautiful sunset.

Country Boy Loc: Beckley, WV

Being a photographer with only a cell phone may have its drawbacks! The way the camera industry is going people better get used to it!

twosummers Loc: Melbourne Australia or Lincolnshire England

I wonder what will happen when over zealous parents realise the number of CCTV cameras that are out there recording our every move. With today's cameras and phones anyone with questionable intent can be some distance away and still take photographs. We all need to be vigilant of course and better that we question an innocent rather than allow a perpetrator to escape. A modicum of common sense goes a long way. Full marks to the parent and the police in this instance.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

WOW!

BebuLamar

They may not know but if they do they actually are not against them. They don't worry about being recorded but rather they think any individual who goes around taking pictures are up to no good.

SteveR Loc: Michigan

People have become over anxious. I live near an elementary school. About 20 years ago, I was at a four way stop sign, directly across from the school. School had been out for an hour and one lone boy was waiting to cross the street cross from where I was sitting at the stop sign. I opened my window and waved my hand to wave him across the street. Suddenly he turned around and started running like a jackrabbit back to school. About a day or so later, as the parent of a child at the school, we got a notice that somebody in a car had tried to pick up a child at the school. I didn't call to let them know it was just me motioning to let the kid cross the street. But, heck, just another story about how everybody has been raised to be scared of their shadow.

rook2c4 Loc: Philadelphia, PA USA

Exactly.

Happened to me twice. One time, a lady flipped out and accused me of being an investigator hired to take pictures of her property, and demanded to know who I was working for. I was only trying out the settings on a camera a just bought and didn't take pictures of her property at all, just the street. In the second incident, another woman accused me of taking pictures of children. I was only capturing images of a historic building in downtown Philadelphia, and there wasn't a single child in any of my pics. In fact, I don't remember even seeing any children in the vicinity! The nonsense we photographers have to put up with sometimes... very discouraging.

twosummers Loc: Melbourne Australia or Lincolnshire England

At the risk of opening a can of worms that will require a bigger can to get them back in. Here in Melbourne and as an architectural photographer I often run into issues when taking photographs of some schools where these are housed in spectacular and often properties of historical significance. I am always careful not to take any photographs where the children are there rather I wait until schools are closed. However I have been approached by the school security staff who have asked me to stop taking photographs. Explaining that taking photographs of pretty much anything from a public place (eg the pavement / sidewalk) is a lawful act and can therefore not be impeded. Regardless of the legal position I always defer to any request to stop. Photography is not a crime but we must always understand the motivation of the majority if they genuinely feel uncomfortable or have been incorrectly briefed.

SteveR Loc: Michigan

However, even if kids were in the picture, they were out in public and there's nothing illegal about it. Same for the story the o.p. posted. Nothing illegal about shooting anybody or anything out in public, including kids.

rook2c4 Loc: Philadelphia, PA USA

Yes, I agree. But I don't want to be attacked, nor do I want to have to deal with a time-consuming police interrogation. For me, photography is only a hobby, not a job. As with any hobby, I need it to be fun and enjoyable. Getting hassled while taking pictures is something I'd rather avoid, even if I'm legally in the right.

cmc4214 Loc: S.W. Pennsylvania

If we don't start standing up for our rights, we soon won't have any

BebuLamar

I know but I am scared.

Don, the 2nd son Loc: Crowded Florida

Been there! Once when my grandson (age 11) & I were returning for an owl hunt at a park when at his request we stopped at his favorite playground. There are some expressive sculptures in the parking area so I told the boy to go play while I shoot a few pics of the bronzes. After a few pics I looked over where he should be and didn’t see him, walked over there and through the play area, no sign of him. Stress level rises! Must have gone to the rest room, walked over there (7D with Canon 300/f4 over my shoulder) opened the door to the 10 x 15’ one stall/one urinal/one lavatory room, only a grandfather and grandson washing hands, stall open, empty, turned around and left. Grandfather flew out after me shouting about me being a pervert for bringing a camera into a rest room. Shouts “Call 911!! This guy’s a pervert” I told him I was looking for my GS, more abuse spewed from him, I realized I didn’t have time for this nonsense and headed back to the play area with him on my backside shouting! I bellowed for my boy who popped up from under a platform where and some other kids were playing hide n seek, phew!! My stress level soars just remembering it!!
A week ago while shooting otters at a neighborhood park with the same rig + monopod and shoulder brace (needed at 82 years) I was approached by a police officer who responded to a report of a man with a rifle in the park. About 15 minutes after our chat as walking the lakeshore a dogwalker (there were lots of them) shouts “What’s the rifle for?” (A rifle with a big WHITE lens?!) I guess it’s time to downsize to a tiny P&S to control my stress level LOL.

domcomm Loc: Denver, CO

Years ago, I was hired by a university to create a slide show about vandalism. That required doing some actual vandalism, which we cleaned up immediately, and some faked vandalism (having a kid with a spray can looking like he was spraying on a bridge that already had vandalism on it). I knew this could be a real problem if anyone reported it to the police, so I contacted the Chief of Police first, before we started, and got permission to do it. He notified the whole police force of what we were doing, and we never had a problem. We even saw police driving by at times, but they never even stopped to find out what we were doing. It really pays to get permission ahead of time, especially when kids or buildings are involved.

SteveR Loc: Michigan

I gotta ask if you had your lens cap on? When I purchased my first DSLR, a D7000 I went in to my Lexus dealership for a free car wash. I happened to have my camera with me and didn't want to leave it in the car so I put it around my neck. I also showed it off to a couple of friends in the dealership. I DID have the lens cap on the whole time. Some weeks later one of my friends told me that a woman had complained the the manager because she was afraid that I was going to take her picture. The manager asked my friends about me who vouched for me, also telling him that I never took the lens cap off. I'm not sure why people are so afraid of cameras. In this day of cell phones, people are able to surreptitiously take photos very easily.