Skip to Content
Hollywood

LA Photog Detained ~ H’wood & Western Metro Station

It is completely legal to photograph the Los Angeles Metro System.

On October 31, 2009 while on my way home from the Hollywood and Highland area, I was unlawfully detained for 25 minutes by LASD Officers Richard Gylfie #2955 and Bayes #456 for taking two photographs of the turnstiles located at the Hollywood and Western Metro Station -- an act that is completely legal and occurred on public space.

As you can see in the video, Officer Richard Gylfie #2955 and Officer Bayes #456 took it upon themselves to ignore Metro policies in order to bully me, humiliate me, and detain me for conducting a perfectly legal activity in public. More important, by illegally detaining me and threatening to have my name added to the FBI's "hit list", Officers Richard Gylfie and Bayes violated my constitutional rights, which protect me as a photographer and against unlawful stops, searches, and seizures.

More on the video's youtube page.

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from L.A. TACO

Daily Memo: ICE Unveils Plan To Detain Children In “Toxic” Louisiana Military Site

The raids continue here in Southern California, as we’ve been seeing many vehicles targeted and stopped. In one case, ICE deployed spike strips before chasing a fleeing woman into a residential area with their guns drawn.

USC Graduate Student at Center of Arturo Flores Sexual Assault Scandal Speaks Out

Since the news broke, there have been ongoing recall efforts and public pressure for Flores to resign. However, Flores remains a sitting council member.

April 28, 2026

Diners, Dommes, and Dives: The 13 Best Restaurants in L.A., According to Dominatrixes

Los Angeles, it turns out, has a tight-knit domme community. They’re caretakers, interpreters of human behavior, and, in their own way, societal pressure valves. Providing a safe and consensual place to release the stress and desires of clients. These are the spots they love to eat.

Sunday Taquitos #25: Nuclear Codes and Presidential Pardons

Sunday Taquitos! Art by Ivan Ehlers.

April 26, 2026

Exclusive: U.S. Citizen Temporarily Detained by ICE ERO Speaks out

“The way they approached the vehicle is horrifying, like we’re being under attack. Screaming at us, breaking the glass. It was horrifying."

This Is How Crazy and Expensive L.A. World Cup Tickets Are Right Now

FIFA dropped another batch of tickets for the tournament this week as part of a “Last Minute Sale.” Who’s got $6k for the quarterfinal at SoFi in a few months?!

April 25, 2026
See all posts