Washtenaw County sheriff's deputies search homes in investigation of man behind anti-police YouTube.com videos
Washtenaw County sheriff’s deputies executed search warrants at two homes Tuesday as they continue to investigate 38-year-old Madison Tristan Mealing of Superior Township, two of Mealing’s family members told AnnArbor.com this morning.
Sheriff Jerry Clayton declined to comment today on the raids, saying there is an ongoing investigation into Mealing.
Mealing is a convicted felon, who deputies say has a history of posting anti-police videos on YouTube.com, pushing the boundaries of the First Amendment. It’s unclear whether the warrants are related to two videos posted on one of his accounts this month that show what he claims is a real handgun.
As a convicted felon, Mealing is prohibited from possessing a handgun.
Six computers, three video cameras, some cellular phones and other items were seized from homes where Mealing resides in Superior Township and in the Ypsilanti area at about noon Tuesday, said his aunt, 62-year-old Angela Mealing. She was home during the Superior Township raid.
Family members were detained for hours as the warrants were being executed, she said, but no one was arrested.
She said her nephew was at his Ypsilanti area home and told her FBI and ATF agents were with deputies. FBI Special Agent Sandra Berchtold, a bureau spokeswoman in Detroit, could not be reached for comment this morning.
Angela Mealing said her nephew struggles with mental health issues. She said it's her understanding he uses YouTube.com as an outlet to criticize what he believes are unjust practices by some police departments.
She has not seen his videos, including one posted about one of Tuesday's raids. But she said she told her nephew he should find other outlets to express himself because of the negative attention it has brought to the family. Family members were about to make stuffing for Thanksgiving dinner when deputies knocked on the door, she said.
“I think he went too far,” she said. “I think he should stop.”
Madison Mealing said investigators were looking for bombs and guns and seized a pack of bullets from one of his homes. The bullets were not his, he said.
Mealing said the gun seen in two of his videos is owned by one of his friends and was not seized during the raids. He said he's decided to stop posting videos.
"For what my family wants me to do right now, I don't think I'll be posting any more videos," he said.
Lee Higgins covers crime and courts for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached by phone at (734) 623-2527 and e-mail at leehiggins@annarbor.com.
Comments
Scrivnor
Sat, Nov 27, 2010 : 11:50 a.m.
The state of Michigan Has the Highest rate of covictions. 98% And the greatest number of prisons. Insitutions are at there best here.
Ricebrnr
Sat, Nov 27, 2010 : 8:17 a.m.
@debling, The legal definition of "posess" in terms of firearms and felons means in control of not whether he personally purchased said firearm. So if the felon posted a video where he stated he had a real gun (and it can be difficult to tell real from toy), then Law enforcement had just cause to go after him. That they did it on Thanksgiving and against extended family members does smell of retaliation and seems to have had the desired affect regarding his legitimate free speech claims. imo
Awakened
Sat, Nov 27, 2010 : 7:52 a.m.
Even if the local police are mad and harrassing him, the FBI and the ATF have better things to do unless there really is something needing investigation at their level. You can not sieze anything not specificially requested in the search warrant. So the other items must relate to articulable probable cause of something other than "felon with a firearm." Lastly, there must be some concern for the well-being of a gentleman who films himself ostensibly violating a felony charge. Not smart at the least. Provoking police action most likely but possibly self destructive. I've said this before... Seeking confrontations with an armed organized force is crazy and the least likely to effect change. Peacful non-compliance requires discipline. Think Martin Luther King.
Mick52
Sat, Nov 27, 2010 : 2:58 a.m.
Michigan Reader, you are correct. All the police need is probably cause agreeable to a judge to get a search warrant. This is going to tick off you ACLU fans but what I would do with this dude is what the 9th Circuit just ruled is constitutionally allowable. If he has a car, go stick a GPS device on it and follow his movements. They could have stuck one on while they were at his house. You do not need a search warrant to slap one on a car and then they could determine if he is out looking to harm police officers by tracking him. Can you image the 9th Circuit, historically one of the most liberal in the nation, approving that method of police activity. There is hope for us all. Good for them finally.
pawky
Fri, Nov 26, 2010 : 9:08 p.m.
For you ACLU types: I guess that it OK to threaten those that protect us with death. Now, if he threatens you or your loved ones with death, that'd be different, right? All of society needs to be protected from this individual, not his right to threaten death.
Michigan Reader
Fri, Nov 26, 2010 : 7:02 p.m.
From reading the article, it looks like nobody is accusing him of breaking the law--this case is still in the investigative stage. The warrant was signed by a judge on the basis of probable cause. That's all that's being alleged right now. The prosecutor's office will do the accusing when/if they file an "Information" in circuit court.
julieswhimsies
Fri, Nov 26, 2010 : 1:45 p.m.
Did the man threaten police officers in these videos? Was it simply extreme criticism? What? Did the police department feel at risk due to these posts? Extreme statements are made every day on youtube. If this man was arrested for expressing his opinion, solely, then his rights were violated.
debling
Fri, Nov 26, 2010 : 10:37 a.m.
There are two threads to this argument. The first is that Madison is brandishing a firearm in a video and therefore in violation of law because he is allegedly a felon. The second is that he has posted "anti-police videos" which are cause for investigation. On the first point, I am not an expert in law and have no idea on what kind of weapon he was reported to be showing. It could be an air pistol or a plastic replica. It might be a friends gun. The video could be doctored to pretent he has a gun. I don't know. Does anyone know the law about which types of "weapons" a felon can or cannot possess? Does possess mean own? Can a felon legally touch a gun without violating the law? The second issue is more troubling. Without seeing the videos, one cannot make a conclusion about whether Madison has done anything egregious or not. Simply criticizing the police or calling for punishment for police wrong doing is an excercise of free speach. Remember, the police work for the people, not rule over them. However, I imagine advocating violence towards individuals would probably cross the line. What is needed here is more information by the AnnArbor.Com staff. Either provide a link to the videos or provide specific information about what is troubling in the videos and what laws the police feel Madison has violated. If more information cannot be provided, I would simply not report the story without getting some facts. Generic statements from the police are simply not good enough.
Adam
Fri, Nov 26, 2010 : 10:22 a.m.
Did they REALLY have to do it on Thanksgiving day? I really think the police were trying to send the message of, hey we can screw with you whenever we want.
Atticus F.
Fri, Nov 26, 2010 : 9:54 a.m.
before we go accusing this guy of breaking the law by being a convicted felon in possesion of a firearm, I would like to see specific proof that he was in possesion of a REAL firearm, and that he was in possesion of said firearm AFTER he had been convicted of a felony...without this type of evidence, it seems the police are grasping at straws. Also, it's considered free speech to say "I believe the police should be drug out into the street and shot"...However it is not free speech to say "I'm going to shoot Sherrif John Brown of the Washtenaw Sherrif Dept."...Just to clarify the free speech question. I haven't personaaly heard or seen the Utube vidieo, so it's hard for me to say if he was practicing free speech.
RoboLogic
Fri, Nov 26, 2010 : 9:37 a.m.
He was breaking the law by being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm in one of his videos...then flaunting it on YouTube. He brought this on himself. Because of the firearm ( and his felon status), the raid was justified. Enough said.
Urban Sombrero
Fri, Nov 26, 2010 : 9:12 a.m.
I agree with Cash, this is harassment. I can see the ACLU being very, very interested in a case like this.
gild
Thu, Nov 25, 2010 : 9:04 p.m.
This story REALLY needs a better headline... and more detail. The headline conjures up images of police blatantly abusing their power by harassing someone who criticized them. It wasn't until I went back to the previous story that I learned he was apparently saying Washtenaw deputies should be killed... which is a bordeline threat, and a lot more than just "anti-police." As it currently stands, the headline does police a disservice by making them sound like thugs trampling on someone's freedom of speech, which does not appear to be the case.
d_a2
Thu, Nov 25, 2010 : 8:44 p.m.
for those interested, he put up a video on his youtube account talking about the raid. Dig in some of the previous articles about it, there should be a link to his youtube.
Cash
Thu, Nov 25, 2010 : 7:40 p.m.
This guy needs a good attorney. This is harassment.
indigonation
Thu, Nov 25, 2010 : 7:20 p.m.
This shouldn't be a crime. People should be able to put up whatever they want to! Shame on the NWO stand up for your rights, believe and say whatever you want don't let the government tell you who to be or what to think!!! Peace, Love, and Freedom
dading dont delete me bro
Thu, Nov 25, 2010 : 5:52 p.m.
"...As a convicted felon, Mealing is prohibited from possessing a handgun..." as a convicted felon, he is prohibited from possessing ANY firearm.
Tony Rizzo
Thu, Nov 25, 2010 : 5:15 p.m.
fremdfirma, if you have to make a comment, at least read the article. This guy was flashing a gun in his videos. He is a felon. Where does the 1st Amendment fit in this? I'm not always a big fan of cops; but, thanks Washtenaw deputies for investigating this guy.
Mick52
Thu, Nov 25, 2010 : 4:48 p.m.
Free speech? How so? I would say this is a S/W to look for the weapon first. But since you cannot find a firearm in a bunch of electronics which is what was seized then something else is up here. But 1st Amendment? Doubt it. If I were writing this story, I would first go to the residence and ask to read the search warrant affidavit which spells out exactly what was searched for and why. It is a requirement that a copy of the affidavit, which contains the reasons why a search warrant is sought, is left at the scene of the search.
RJA
Thu, Nov 25, 2010 : 3:07 p.m.
I guess Madison is going to really think this raid was unjust. Sorry Angela, for the raid during your preparing for Thanksgiving dinner. Our Police need to be protected, so the raid is a good thing.
fremdfirma
Thu, Nov 25, 2010 : 2:58 p.m.
Look, just because the guy is acting like a complete jerk doesn't mean he surrenders his first amendment rights - I think everyone reading the story is quite well aware this is more of the petty lordlings attitude amongst the police force which has been a major factor in the publics willingness to cut their budgets, because when police engage in this kind of intimidation and bullying, people start to wonder if there is much difference between policing and organized crime, particularly when revenue-based enforcement or asset forfeiture become prioritized over community protection. On top of all that, this is pure foolishness since by giving the guy this kind of attention they play right into his hands, by acting in this fashion they give him both a credibility and public sympathy, that he does not deserve. One might also consider that this fellow wouldn't gain an ounce of traction with the community whatsoever if there weren't serious conduct problems with the local police force, although admittedly this has improved quite a bit in the past two years - still, by doing this they are doing neither themselves nor the community any favors.
someguy734
Thu, Nov 25, 2010 : 2:56 p.m.
no more freedom of speech?