Do police stop everyone taking photos?

Welcome back to downtown, Theatre Cedar Rapids!

However, two Cedar Rapids police officers did not make me feel as welcome as I hope Cedar Rapids made TCR feel on the evening of the grand-reopening gala (Friday).

As I walked back to my downtown apartment, having gone out to take pictures of the theater's marquee and lights, two officers made a U-turn in their patrol car, stopped just behind me, turned on their lights, got out and detained me.

They asked me what I was doing. I said taking pictures of the theater opening. They asked me for I.D. I gave them my license. They reminded me several times to keep my hands out of my pockets. (It was kind of chilly!)

I asked them, what is your probable cause? They said they did not know what I was doing. They wanted to check it out. I could be taking pictures of Wells Fargo, for example, planning a break in.

I'd like to believe that Cedar Rapids police routinely stop people, for such suspicious activities as taking pictures, alone, in downtown Cedar Rapids, near a theater's grand opening. If that's true, I won't feel singled out.

I won't feel that being a male person of color, alone, after sunset, in downtown Cedar Rapids (with a potentially dangerous point-and-shoot camera) had anything to do with it.

David Harris

Cedar Rapids