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Transcript Details

Alabama Deputy Got Inches From My Face! Sheriff Said It Was MY Fault!

Long Island Audit
Published: 2026-08-13 · Video ID: kPnhkjFXTO4
~3,254 words · ~22 min · last indexed on 2026-08-20

Summary

This episode centers on a confrontation at Limestone County Sheriff’s Department in Alabama where creator “Long Island Audit” (SeanPaul) records the exterior of the jail. He states a deputy (Roop) exited a vehicle, approached within inches of his face, and tried to intimidate him. The sheriff, after reviewing the video, tells the creator he was “trying to provoke a reaction” and that the deputy did nothing illegal. The creator also highlights inability to obtain a formal complaint form from the department, which a sergeant confirmed to his knowledge does not exist. It may be relevant to research on government transparency and resistance to civilian oversight.

Why it may matter: This exchange reflects common friction in First Amendment auditing: deputies reacting to recording as provocation, sheriffs declining to discipline subordinates despite clear footage, and bureaucratic barriers (lack of complaint forms) that discourage public accountability. It can be used as a case study in how law enforcement routinizes resistance to civilian oversight.

Full Transcript

I will talk to you if you turn that off. I don't want my likeness used either. >> You cannot video him inside this >> a public lobby. I would appreciate it if you backed away from me. I would appreciate that. Just back away. >> What I can say >> I would appreciate it if you backed away from me. >> But he didn't do anything illegal, did he? >> If it's not illegal, I can walk up to you and and and get in your face, right? You are the sheriff of this county. You took an oath to uphold the Constitution. >> [music] >> Hey, what's up, guys? Long Island Audit, back to another clip. This one went down at the Limestone County Sheriff's Department in Alabama. Deputy Roop and Sheriff Joshua McLaughlin tried to censor this video because they didn't want the world to see their behavior. I walked up with a camera, deputy got out of his vehicle inches from my face trying to intimidate me. Then the sheriff came down personally, watched the whole video, and still defended him. Watch this. Who are you? And your name? I'm sorry. I can't hear you. >> What are you doing? >> I'm just taking some pictures and video of the facility. >> Why? >> For my own personal use. What are you doing? >> I'm a guy here trying to film the jail. >> What are you doing? What are you doing? >> Well, I was going to go to lunch. >> You were going to go to lunch? Don't let me stop you. >> You're not stopping me. >> Yeah, you're not detained or you're free to go to get your lunch. There's Okay. Have a Enjoy your lunch. Still following me around. Correctional officer. See, the correctional officer's job is are to monitor the inmates, not free men and women walking around in public. We have some more correctional officers here. Hey, how are you? I'm doing well, sir. Beautiful day. >> Not often we get somebody out here walking around. You doing good, though? >> Yeah, do you mind if I get your name? >> Randolph. >> Randolph, and your name, sir? >> Posey. >> Posey, and your name, sir? >> Smith. >> Thank you, Smith. My name is Sean. Just taking some pictures and video of the facility here. Nothing nefarious going on. I spoke to this uh correctional officer here on his way to lunch. Told him not, you know, mean to interrupt your lunch, but he just taking some pictures and videos here. Nothing nefarious going on. >> Sounds good to me. You need bottled water or anything? Don't get too hot out here, though. >> No, thank you. I appreciate I appreciate the offer. I really do. Thank you. It is getting a little hot out here, but beautiful day. >> Yes, sir, it is. >> It's a beautiful day outside. Beautiful day. So >> You guys have a good one. You guys have a good one. You don't have my permission to use my likeness in your film. >> I'm sorry, sir. I can't hear you. Your truck is very loud. >> You don't have the my permission to use my likeness in your film. >> I don't have your permission to use your likeness? >> Yeah, you're not using my image on your film. >> Well, we're in public. You have security cameras here. Well, my name is Sean. >> Sean what? >> Just Sean. >> Sean, you got to have a last name. >> Just Sean, sir. >> My attorney's going to need it. >> Your attorney's going to need it? I'm sure he'll find me. It's just Sean, though. >> Sean what? >> Just Sean. Just Sean. One of the things I always tell people is this, rights don't mean much if people can intimidate you into never using them. Whether you're recording public officials, speaking your mind online, or simply living your life, your privacy matters. Most people have no idea just how much of their personal information is publicly available through data brokers and people search sites. Your home address, phone numbers, family members, email addresses, [music] it's all bought and sold every single day. That's where Incogni comes in. They automatically work to remove your information from hundreds of data brokers and continue monitoring so your information doesn't simply reappear later. I also like their unlimited plan because of their custom removals features. There's a website exposing your information that's outside the automated system, you simply submit the link and Incogni handles the removals process for you. It only takes three simple steps. Create your account, give Incogni permission to work for you, then let them start removing your information. If you believe in protecting your rights, protecting your privacy should be a part of that, too. Click my link in the description and pin comment below and use my code to save 60% off an annual Incogni plan. Remember, they can't harm you if they can't find you. >> Why would your attorney need it? It's your likeness. You're in public, aren't you? >> Not on your camera, I'm not. >> You are in public. It's a public place. We're in public. You have security cameras here filming me. >> What I'm saying is I don't know what you're doing. >> I would appreciate it if you backed away from me. I would appreciate that. Just back away. >> But what I can say >> I would appreciate it if you backed away from me. >> You're in public. >> You're standing inches from me. Back away. >> You're in public. >> Back away. Officer. De-escalate. Get back in your truck and go have your lunch. Go enjoy your lunch. This is not what you want to do. >> What's the name of your YouTube page? >> You want to go to lunch. That's That's you want to do. You don't want to do this. There's no reason for it. You thought you were going to intimidate me coming up on me like that, coming up on me like that. Didn't work, did it? Didn't back up an inch. Now, please back up and de-escalate. Or go get your supervisor. Can you call a supervisor because this guy is trying to intimidate me? >> We got a deputy >> You intimidate those guys in there. You ain't going to intimidate me. You intimidate them because they're in handcuffs and they're in cells. I'm not either one of those right now. So, you're not intimidating me. Now, back up, go to lunch, stop harassing me, stop trying to intimidate me. Tyrant. I'd like to speak to a supervisor, sir. >> I'm supervisor here right now. >> You're supervisor here right now? You sergeant? >> What? I will talk to you if you turn that off. I don't want my likeness used, either. >> Right. I understand that you guys have a problem with likenesses being used. I get all that, sergeant. Uh, but you just saw one of your >> If you get it, then turn the thing off. All he asked you was your name so he can make sure that your likeness >> is Sean. He can do whatever he likes. That's fine. He can do He can do that. But what he can't do is try to intimidate members of the public. And you as a supervisor allowed it to happen. >> You allowed that as a supervisor to happen for him to come up in my space and intimidate me. So, you just allow your officers to intimidate members of the public? Sergeant? Is that how you run this operation you have here? Absolutely disgusting. >> I'm Get my baby. >> You cannot video inside. This is a public lobby. Do not video tape inside. >> I'm here to get a complaint form since you don't want to take my complaint. >> form is right down here at dispatch. >> This is not a public lobby. >> If you need a complaint form, go to dispatch. >> Okay, but this is a public lobby, correct? I don't consent to using my likeness on your security camera footage, just so you know. So, this is just a visitor center, guys. We're [clears throat] not going to be intimidated by these tyrants. So, we have a deputy here just arriving on scene, Limestone County Sheriff's Deputy. We're going to be getting that complaint form to file against that rogue tyrant officer who thinks he could just try to intimidate members of the public. They are public servants. Hey, sir, how are you? Good. Good. >> I'm a sergeant Moore with the Sheriff's Office here. >> Hey, sergeant. >> Is there a concern? Something something wrong or >> S- Sergeant Moore, no, it it was just I'm in My name is Shawn. I'm an independent journalist. I'm just taking some B-roll footage of the facility here. I'm working on a story. Um the county facility here. And uh while I was doing that, some correctional officers approached me. One in particular, he got in my face trying to intimidate me. And you know, I just wanted to file a complaint against that correctional officer. >> Okay, well, I'd say that would be their supervisor. I'm a patrol sergeant. >> Right. >> to be a >> Right, the supervisor just ignored me. He saw it happen. Like I said, he got like right in my face, like inches from my face. >> Okay. Um which uh supervisor did you speak to with corrections? >> Um I believe it was uh Sergeant Smith. >> Sergeant Smith? >> I Smith was one of their names. There was about five of them out here. So, he spoke, he went back inside. But, you are a law enforcement officer? >> Yes, sir. >> Okay. >> Um so, as far as the recording goes, it's not an issue. You have a you know, you have a first amendment right to to you know, freedom of the press, all that all that kind of stuff. As long as you are not recording anything going on within the facility or causing a disruption to the um >> Right, no restricted areas or anything like that. Right, no restricted areas and I'm not I'm not interfering with anything. I'm just quietly gathering my content for my story. Like I said, it's just the the intimidation tactics used here. I don't really appreciate them and I'm not as you just said, I'm not breaking any laws. I'm not doing anything illegal. So, I don't see why that that would happen. >> Uh what kind of story are you working on? What kind of are you >> Government corruption. I investigate government corruption. >> Okay. >> Yeah. >> All right, then you said your name's Shawn? >> Yeah, Shawn. >> What's your last name, Shawn? >> It's just Shawn. >> Just Shawn? >> Yeah, just Shawn. Just Shawn? >> then Shawn, well, as long as you do not hinder any kind of government operations or going any kind of restricted access areas or film anything within the facility. >> Have a great day. Definitely was not trying to hear any of his der- >> Yes, sir. >> Hi, ma'am. I was looking to get a complaint form. >> Okay, give me just a second. >> No problem. Take your time. >> Okay, sir. So, my higher-ups are at lunch right now. We don't have complaint forms. You can talk to somebody and file a complaint. >> What happened? >> Right, so there's no form that exists to file a complaint against a correctional officer? >> Not at my office, no. >> Not at your office. Where's the main sheriff's department? >> So, this is the main sheriff's department. The front office is just around the corner. >> I find it really just mind-boggling that there's not a form. >> So, the complaint starts, if you have an issue with a deputy or a corrections officer, you talk to their supervisor. You go over with them and then if if there's anything to the complaint, the supervisor will then do a counseling, a written counseling with the person you have the complaint on if there is any kind of violation of policy. >> Right. >> So >> there's not a form that I know of for you to fill out. However, when you speak to the supervisor, if there was a violation of policy or some kind of unethical conduct, the supervisor can can then do a written counseling or written disciplinary with the person and it goes in their personnel file. >> So according to you, there is >> [music] >> no formal complaint forms for the sheriff's department for the Limestone County Sheriff's Department. >> To my knowledge, that is correct. >> Okay. And your name was again? >> Sergeant Moore. >> Sergeant Moore. Thanks, Sergeant [music] Moore. I think that's ridiculous, but all right. Absolutely ridiculous. No complaint forms. Hey, how are you? >> Good. How are you doing, sir? >> I with the Limestone County >> Yes. >> Sheriff's Office? >> Yes, sir. >> I have just a quick question for you. >> Okay. >> I was told that there's there's they doesn't exist uh complaint forms to file a complaint against a deputy or correctional officer in this case. >> No. >> Do you know that that >> No, I I a form >> Like a form, like a complaint form, like somebody says comes into the sheriff's department and says, "Hey, I want to file a complaint against uh deputy so-and-so." >> Sure. >> You just speak to a supervisor, there's no form you fill out. >> Yeah, so not that I know there's not cuz I'm just I'm just patrol deputy. Um if you do want to make a complaint, um you can just call up here Monday through Friday and it will report it to our captain. >> Okay. Just mind-boggling that it that I've been to police departments all across the country and everybody has a complaint form. So >> And there could be one, but not to my knowledge. >> No, but your sergeant your sergeant told me there wasn't one, so I'm going to take his word for it. But uh thanks. I appreciate you answering my question. Thank you. You, too. Thank you. Absolutely ridiculous, ladies and gentlemen. Hey, Josh. >> I have a quick question to talk with me. >> Yes. >> Sheriff. >> Yes, sir. I would I would love to speak to you. >> So you got a complaint? >> Yeah, so I just I was out here just taking some pictures and video. Um I was very cordial to everybody who came into contact with me and um and Officer Rupp said, "What are you doing?" I told him what I was doing. I was taking some pictures and video. I told him my name is Shawn. Um I don't provide any other identifying information other than that, but Officer Rupp became very aggressive, got out of his vehicle. He was supposed to go to lunch. He says, "Hey, I'm going to lunch." I said, "All right, you should go to lunch. Have a nice lunch, officer." He gets right into my face, literally an inch from my face, inches from my face, and just stands there and stares at me and tries to intimidate me, all because I'm engaged in a constitutionally protected activity. I'm not I'm not here to harass anybody. I'm not here to try and do anything criminal in nature. I'm here to exercise my right. >> can you show me the video what happened? >> Sure, I can show you the video, no problem. I I can show it to you. >> real quick and I'll discuss it. >> Okay, I'll show it to you. Hold on. That's basically everything that transpired, Sheriff. Um >> Here's the deal, man. You're welcome to film and do everything. All right. I know what you're here for. You may get some reaction out of people. I'm going to go talk to them and let them know that you can be here and you can do this. It's just part of it. But uh as long as you don't start harassing anyone or sticking it up anybody's face, I don't care, man. You're welcome to be here. >> Right. So, but what do you >> to him. >> Right, right, right. So, I'm not looking for anybody to harass me. I'm not looking for anybody to intimidate me. >> What are you trying to You're trying to provoke a reaction out of people. So, >> What you just watched You just watched the video. >> But he didn't do anything illegal, did he? >> He It's very concerning that you're the Sheriff of this county and you don't You could say You could say he didn't do anything illegal. He didn't do anything illegal. I would consider it harassment, so I would consider it illegal. I would consider it illegal. If I did that to you, if I walked up to you, so if it's not illegal, I can walk up to you and and get in your face, right? >> Yeah, is it You don't bother me, but you're not going to do that to other people. >> Okay, but I didn't do it. He came up to me. You saw the video, Sheriff. >> to go and I will talk to him. >> But you saw the video. I was nowhere near him. >> Listen to me. Okay? Like I said, you're free to be out here, film, record, take pictures, whatever you want to do. >> Right. >> If you get a provoked reaction out of what you're trying to look for, you can't go complaining, but he didn't do anything illegal. I will address it with him, but other than that, >> Well, what about what about recording is What about recording is provoking anybody, Sheriff? Just Just recording in and of itself is not provoking. My goal My goal is to peacefully exercise my rights and to see how our public servants, including yourself, Sheriff, No. No. No. No. No. To see how they react to us engaging in a constitutionally protected activity. It's scary to me. You took an oath. You are the Sheriff of this county. You took an oath to uphold the Constitution. You're not going to have a civil conversation because you one of your It is. I'm not being argumentative. You're saying You're saying that I'm here provoking people, but you're not taking accountability for your officers who tried to provoke me and intimidate me. Shameless behavior, Sheriff. And what I'm doing here is exactly this, exposing you to the world. Wow. Sheriff McLaughlin came down himself. I showed him the entire video. He watched the whole thing, then said I was trying to provoke a reaction. Sheriff, your officer got out of his car on the way to lunch specifically to intimidate me. I never moved toward him. It's all on camera, and there are no complaint forms at this department. None. Everywhere in this country has complaint forms, not Limestone County, Alabama. Let me know your thoughts in the comments. Stay safe. God bless. Long Island Audit, peace.