Maryland Warden Assaults Citizen Journalist for Recording in Public Building

Incident at Dorchester County Correctional Facility

• 📹 Sean Paul Reyes, known as Long Island Audit, was filming in a public area of the Dorchester County Correctional Facility in Maryland.
• 🏛️ Reyes was exercising his First Amendment right to film in public spaces to promote transparency and accountability.
• 🚫 Despite the public nature of the area, a visitation lady initially claimed Reyes could not have a phone/camera inside, citing a sign on the door.

Confrontation with Warden Satterfield

• 🚨 Warden Don Satterfield confronted Reyes, demanding he leave the building and physically touching him.
• 🗣️ Reyes asserted he was engaged in a constitutionally protected activity and that the warden had no authority to arrest him.
• 💥 Satterfield repeatedly touched and pushed Reyes, with Reyes warning that he might be staying if hands were laid on him again.
• ⚖️ Satterfield claimed Reyes was in violation of the law by having a cell phone in a detention center, which Reyes countered was a county policy, not state law.

Attempt to File a Complaint

• 📝 After being physically removed, Reyes attempted to file a complaint at the sheriff's office.
• 🏛️ A corporal informed Reyes that to file a formal complaint, he needed to go to the county office building and speak with the County Manager, Jerry Jones.
• 🚫 Reyes was told the sheriff's department would not take a criminal complaint, despite his evidence of assault.

Investigation and Follow-Up

• 📞 Reyes eventually spoke with local prosecutor Amanda Leonard, who stated she had received his complaint and would initiate an investigation.
• ❓ Several weeks later, Reyes learned the investigation had moved out of Leonard's office due to a potential conflict of interest, but the new agency and status remained undisclosed.
• 🤷 When inquiring about Warden Satterfield's current status, the Department of Corrections receptionist refused to provide information.

Significance of the Event

• ✊ The incident highlights the importance of citizen journalism and the challenges faced when asserting constitutional rights against government officials.
• ⚠️ The video suggests that if a warden behaves this way in public, it raises concerns about how inmates might be treated away from cameras.
• ✅ Kudos are given to Sean Paul Reyes for his calm and professional approach to educating the public about their rights.