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On the Fourth of July in Neptune Beach, hundreds of people gathered along First Street to hear Lane Pittman play the national anthem on his guitar. It was a moment the self-described entertainer says he'll never forget.
Later, as the crowd cheered, video shows Neptune Beach police moving in and arresting Pittman for breaching the peace.
The problem started minutes earlier when Pittman first began playing in the street. In a second video, he is seen talking to officers, who he says gave him permission to keep playing.
"I asked if I could just move it back to the sidewalk, and he said that was fine."
As Pittman began to play, the crowd grew to an estimated 300 people.
Neptune Beach Police Chief David Sembach says it simply wasn't safe that his officers really gave Pittman a warning.
"They told him he was going to have to stop playing because his playing was blocking the street to vehicles."
Sembach says police allowed Pittman to finish out of respect for the national anthem, but the crowd then turned on officers.
"They were hollering at the police and spitting on the cars."
Pittman says that's not what he wanted, and he hopes a lesson is learned by all.
"This was not an act of defiance by any means. My parents raised me to know that if a cop tells you to do something, you do it, but I believe they told me it was OK. I would have never have kept playing if they told me not to."
Pittman says he was not under the influence of any alcohol or drugs and police confirm he cooperated once he was taken to headquarters. He was not transported to jail. Instead, Sembach says, he qualified to be issued a notice to appear in court at a later date based on his good record.
Pittman has hired an attorney, but Sembach says his department will not drop the charge. The state attorney's office confirms they are reviewing the case.
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