Photographer arrested filming N.J. crash

Charges appear likely to be dropped against a New Jersey photographer who was arrested for refusing to hand over his camera at the scene of a vehicle accident.

Ocean County Prosecutor Joseph Coronato told NBC Philadelphia over the weekend that he likely won't prosecute Lacey Township photographer Andrew Flinchbaugh.

Flinchbaugh was taken into custody after he refused to hand over his camera to officers at the scene of a Dover Road crash on Thursday.

"It would be my opinion that we'll probably be dismissing the charge against him," Coronato told the television station.

A video of his altercation with authorities on the scene, posted on the local news website LaceyReporter.com, shows Flinchbaugh -- a contributor to the site -- offering to show investigators his video or provide them with a copy of the footage.

A detective insists that the photographer hand over the camera.

"I'm not going to negotiate with you," the detective is heard saying. "I'm explaining to you this camera's going to be collected."

Later in the 10-minute video, the photographer says, "You're not seizing my camera." The detective tells Flinchbaugh he's "not taking the camera" away from the scene and demands, "Give me the camera, give me the camera now."

Flinchbaugh says "you're going to have to place me under arrest," to get the camera, and the officer is then heard telling the photographer to put his hands on his back and that he's under arrest before the video is turned off.

NBC Philadelphia reported this weekend that prosecutors say the crash involved another detective from the prosecutor's office. The incident over the camera remains under review, and Coronato told the station his office "never would have looked at the video without getting a search warrant," which it didn't have the legal authority to obtain.