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A routine visit to Jersey City Hall turned into a civil rights nightmare when an Assistant Human Resources Director impersonated a police officer and ordered the arrest of independent journalist Sean Buckner. The incident, which unfolded during a Bolivian flag-raising ceremony at the government building, was captured entirely on video by multiple reporters present at the scene.
The Assault That Started It All
The confrontation began when a city employee allegedly grabbed journalist Ron Durbin's camera, attempting to prevent him from recording in the public building. According to witness accounts, the woman physically seized Durbin's recording equipment before he could retrieve it from her hands. Rather than arrest the employee for battery, Jersey City police escorted her to the restricted third floor, setting off a chain of escalating violations.
The decision to protect the alleged assailant while targeting the victim would prove to be just the beginning of the city's problems.
When HR Directors Play Cop
The situation escalated dramatically when Assistant HR Director, a retired police official, approached journalist Josh and declared himself a police officer. He told Josh he was detained for "defiant trespassing" and couldn't proceed down a hallway containing public restrooms. When Josh questioned his authority, the fake cop allegedly challenged him to a fight in the bathroom.
But the most egregious violation came when Sean Buckner simply needed to use the restroom. Walking down the same public hallway, Buckner was confronted by the HR Director who "ordered the sergeant to arrest me," according to Buckner's account.
The Arrest Even Police Knew Was Wrong
What happened next reveals a department in chaos. The sergeant followed the non-cop's orders and arrested Buckner for walking in a public building. But every other officer on scene immediately recognized the arrest was unlawful. A deputy chief was called in off-duty to deal with what witnesses described as the "dumb sergeant's" mistake.
The deputy chief even tried convincing the sergeant not to proceed, explaining that you cannot arrest someone when the area hasn't been properly restricted and marked. The sergeant defied his superior's direct order and wrote the citation anyway.
Foreign Flags Over American City Hall
While journalists were being arrested for basic newsgathering, Jersey City was hosting an elaborate ceremony for Bolivian nationals. The event included traditional dances, songs, and awards presentations inside the government building, culminating with raising the Bolivian flag over the American municipal building.
When journalist James Freeman tried to document the flag ceremony as the only American citizen in line, he was blocked while foreign nationals were allowed to proceed. This selective enforcement based on the content of his journalism activity constitutes another clear civil rights violation.
The Negotiated Release and What Comes Next
After negotiations between other journalists and the deputy chief, Buckner was released and driven back to city hall. Multiple officers refused to sign the citation, forcing the sergeant to complete the paperwork himself. The charge? Defiant trespassing in a public building that Buckner was never actually trespassed from.
Jersey City now faces potential federal civil rights lawsuits from multiple journalists. The HR Director's impersonation of a police officer, the unlawful arrest, and the content-based discrimination against reporters all constitute serious violations that could cost taxpayers significantly.
But the full scope of what happened inside Jersey City Hall, including confrontations that haven't been fully revealed, can only be understood by watching the complete footage.
See exactly how a routine records request turned into multiple civil rights violations in the full video below.
