A YouTube activist released video footage that challenges the Suffolk County Police Benevolent Association's account of his arrest last week. Sean Reyes, who operates under the name The Long Island Auditor and has over a million subscribers, was arrested for trespassing at the PBA headquarters in Brentwood.
Reyes stated in a Sunday video post that he drove a billboard truck to the union headquarters to exercise his First Amendment rights and discuss reports of misconduct settlements involving officers. The truck was adorned with a billboard critical of PBA president Lou Civello, alleging he defends officers who admitted to misconduct and referring to the organization as the "Police Malevolent Association."
The video shows Reyes entering the lobby of the PBA building with a camera and microphone but being stopped by security. Civello and two other plainclothes officers then approached Reyes, informing him he was on private property. Reyes can be seen in the footage walking backward out of the building while speaking with Civello, who repeatedly told him to leave or face arrest.
Civello then proceeded to arrest Reyes, who was charged with third-degree trespassing and given a desk appearance ticket. The newly released video does not appear to show Reyes threatening officers or mentioning Civello's home, as the PBA president had previously claimed.
Reyes announced plans to protest his arrest on the sidewalk outside the PBA headquarters on July 1. Representatives for Civello did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Reyes also did not respond to requests for comment.