A YouTube video taken by a Memphis man during an incident with Shelby County sheriff's deputies has gone viral with more than 95,000 views and counting.
You can hear Matt Goins, of Memphis, in the video asking, "Do you suspect us of committing a crime?"
Mike Goins says he was at his brother's house with some friends outside when Shelby County sheriff's deputies started questioning them.
"Once I told him that was my brother, I thought he would leave, he didn't leave," recalls Goins.
In the 8 minute 27 second video, deputies question the group of people outside the home and ask for identification even as the homeowners insist everyone present is welcome on the property.
The video is causing a lot of conversation online about filming the police and knowing your rights. Attorneys WHBQ spoke with say you have every right to get out your cell phone and start recording, as long as you're not interrupting police business.
Civil rights attorney Bruce Kramer adds citizens should know to ask the right questions in a situation like this.
“You can ask the police, and should ask the police, 'Am I under arrest or am I free to go?'”
He also says, “If you are free to go -- that is if the police do not have reasonable suspicion to believe you have committed a crime -- you are free to go, and you should go.”
In the video you can hear Goins ask, “Are we being detained?, We're not detained, you haven't explained you suspect us of committing a crime, therefore we're free to go.”
The sheriff's deputy responded, "All we're doing is checking to make sure everything's OK. I never said anyone was doing anything wrong, but you got to understand that's how a lot of these burglaries happen."
Goins says he hopes this will be a learning moment for all.
"Right now I don't feel like every police officer is bad; I don't feel like the majority of them are bad. But I feel like the ones that get attention are the encounters that are bad," says Goins.
WHBQ also showed the video to Shelby County Commissioner Van Turner, who is also an attorney. He tells us he thinks both sides did everything right and also calls this a teaching moment on how to diffuse a situation that could've otherwise turned ugly.
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