OPERATION SPRING CLEANING EXPEDITION FREE

Stops like these, whether they happen to groups or individuals, are unconstitutional, civil liberties advocates, defense attorneys and constitutional law professors said. More people walked toward the cruiser to line up. 'If you want to come forward, give your name вЂ¦ to get out of here. John Danilecki, announced to people crowded along the wall of the shelter that they could leave if they offered up their identities.

In footage from the first night of the operation, the officer in charge, Capt.

OPERATION SPRING CLEANING EXPEDITION FREE

The pedestrians were told they were trespassing - that the Southampton Street Shelter was closed for the evening - and that they were not free to go until their IDs were run. In some of the videos, officers stopped people walking down nearby public sidewalks. The police ran their IDs through the criminal record system, which alerts officers to any outstanding warrants. Officers told dozens of people on Atkinson Street that they couldn't leave the area unless they handed over identification, according to the videos. The recordings appeared to reveal how police figured out how many of those people had arrest warrants.

More than half - 18 people - were arrested solely on active warrants, for offenses ranging from drug possession to assault and battery. In all, 34 people were arrested over two nights, Aug. More than seven hours of police body camera and handheld footage, released to the American Civil Liberties Union of Massachusetts in a public records lawsuit and provided to WBUR, bring to light some key moments in the Boston police's controversial crackdown of a South End area frequented by people struggling with homelessness and substance use. Newly released videos filmed by Boston police during last yearвЂ™s вЂњOperation Clean SweepвЂќ show what attorneys say are the unconstitutional stops of dozens of people near the South Bay House of Correction. People lined up outside a Boston police cruiser prepare to hand over their IDs so police can run them through the warrant check system during last year's 'Operation Clean Sweep.' (Boston police footage courtesy ACLU) This article is more than 1 year old.

Operation spring cleaning expedition