This video was obtained by the Salt Lake Tribune through an open records request. It does not include the kiss leading up to the arrest, but it does show the confrontation between Aune and Church officials:
It should also be known that the trespassing charges have been dropped by City Prosecutor Sim Gill, saying that it was a “misunderstanding” and that the couple did not know they had a public right of way.
Admitting that I am bias, it does appear that the Church police were more forceful than they needed to be, though it is also obvious that Aune was being argumentative.
So much for the popular theory that Matt Aune and Derek Jones were picking a fight. It’s pretty easy to see who’s getting picked on.
oh please!!!! No one was being forceful. I think it’s that snotty Aune who was looking to pick a fight from the get go. Church officials seemed to be very calm and only retrained because Aune was getting in their faces and starting to get violent. Can no one else see that?
Amber, it’s obviously the officials themselves that make the first move into physical confrontation. It does appear Aune was being argumentative — if the hand guestures are indicative — but if we are going to talk “violent” (your word) there is no question from the video which party makes the first move beyond a verbal interaction.
Actually, the point I was making at the time was a response to their claim that “we don’t come on to your property and act inappropriately.” I replied “actually, you do. I find missionaries continually trying to proselytize me on my front steps after I’ve repeatedly made it clear that I’m not interested very inappropriate.” They didn’t like that none too much. It was then that they grabbed us.
Guess that was kind of snotty Amber. But then again, when you’re being called disgusting and gross for just being who you are we’ll see how you feel.