Cruz said that when he heard a commotion, he walked out of his back door with his cell phone to see what was happening. He said that when he saw the street lined with police cars, he decided to take a picture of the scene.

“I opened (the phone) and took a shot,” Cruz said.

Moments later, Cruz said he got the shock of his life when an officer came to his back yard gate.

Then the officer proceeded to arrest 21 year old Neftaly Cruz for taking a photograph with his cell phone.

“They threatened to charge me with conspiracy, impeding an investigation, obstruction of a investigation. … They said, ‘You were impeding this investigation.’ (I asked,) “By doing what?’ (The officer said,) ‘By taking a picture of the police officers with a camera phone,’” Cruz said.

The police will admit they took him into custody but say he wasn’t on his property at the time the arrested him. They deny anyone telling him it was illegal to take photos of cops at work on his cell phone, though there are more than a few witnesses who say that’s just what went down.

I’m going to remember to follow this story, because as a person who always has some sort of camera with me and takes photos of anything interesting happening out in public, I’d like to know how it turns out. Last time I checked, it isn’t illegal to photograph events occurring in public, even when the cops are involved … though I do know if you try it here in Austin, the cops will give you a hard time about it (but not arrest you, since it’s not against the law and they can’t).

Should be interesting to see what the truth of this situation turns out to be.