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Sean Reyes walked into a Nassau County building this morning knowing exactly what would happen. The independent journalist behind Long Island Audit had received word that Police Commissioner Patrick Ryder issued a standing directive to arrest him the moment he returned to film. He went anyway.
The Directive That Changed Everything
According to sources within the Nassau County Police Department, Commissioner Ryder had given explicit orders to arrest Reyes on sight if he returned to document activities at the building. This wasn't speculation or rumor. Reyes himself confirmed he'd been told about the directive before making his decision to return.
Before entering the building, Reyes delivered a speech outside explaining his research into constitutional protections for recording in publicly accessible areas. He also cited a New York statutory right allowing citizens to record security officers performing their duties. He knew the risks but proceeded based on his legal analysis.
The Third Time They've Taken Him
This marks the third arrest of Reyes at the same Nassau County facility. The pattern suggests a systematic effort to discourage his documentation work rather than legitimate enforcement of trespassing laws. Reyes had not accessed any secured areas, nor was he blocking public access to the building.
The arrest was captured on video, though the stream ended abruptly when officers moved in. Phone calls to the Nassau County detention facility confirmed Reyes was "being processed" but officials refused to provide details about potential charges or release conditions.
Three Hours of Government Run-Around
Multiple attempts to reach Nassau County officials met with bureaucratic stonewalling. Calls bounced between departments as supervisors claimed they had "no information" about a case happening in their own building. The detective division referred callers to patrol. Patrol referred them back to detectives.
One particularly revealing exchange came when a detective was asked to spend 30 seconds getting information that would "stop a lot of y'all's work" by answering basic questions about Reyes' status. The response? "I have my own job to do."
When Government Accountability Becomes Terrorism
New York Penal Law 490.25 defines terrorism as committing specified offenses "with intent to intimidate or coerce a civilian population" or "influence the policy of a unit of government by intimidation or coercion." The statute specifically includes kidnapping, defined as depriving someone of liberty and moving them from one location to another.
By this definition, using arrest to discourage citizens from exercising constitutional rights fits the legal framework for terrorism charges. Yet somehow it's the journalist who ends up in handcuffs.
The Question That Remains Unanswered
As of this writing, Nassau County officials have provided no clear timeline for Reyes' release or information about potential charges. Will he be released on an appearance ticket, or will he be held overnight for morning arraignment? The answer determines whether he needs immediate legal assistance or can simply wait out the bureaucratic process.
Watch the full arrest unfold and see exactly how Nassau County treats journalists who dare to document their operations.
