Reality show "COPS" accused of coercing Tampa teen into signing release form

 

Tampa, Florida-- The mother of a Tampa teen arrested for trespassing Tuesday is now filing complaints with the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office and the producers of "COPS" claiming the show's video crew coerced her son into signing a release form he didn't want to.

Corey Robinson, a high school senior who turned eighteen on the night of his arrest, says he was walking in Nuccio Park Tuesday evening around 9:00pm when he heard footsteps running in his direction.

"I just started to run," says Robinson who at first didn't know who was chasing him.

He was eventually tackled to the ground by a team of Hillsborough County Sheriff's Deputies who were being followed by a video crew from the reality show COPS.

"I see the camera in my face and I asked 'am I on COPS?' The cameraman didn't answer, but I see the camera and the microphone in my face, and I know I'm on COPS," Robinson said.

He was next cuffed and taken to a Sheriff's Office cruiser where a camera man came and asked him to sign a release form giving the show's production company permission to use his image on COPS and other television broadcasts.

"It's either going to be a felony, or you sign the paper and let us use your face on TV," Robinson recalls the camera man saying. "I asked him, 'can I talk to the police man' and he said 'the only way you're getting out of this, is if you sign my paper.'"

Robinson later found out he was being charged with two misdemeanors: trespassing in a public park, and resisting arrest without violence. He was released without going to jail, and feels the camera man tricked him by saying he could face more serious charges. He also claims the crew member refused to allow him to call his mother or an attorney before signing the form, and was also not provided a copy to take home.

Hillsborough Sheriff's Deputies say despite allowing the show to follow along with them in Tampa, they are no responsible for the production crew's actions.

"That's between you and the program of COPS, that's not a law enforcement issue," said Sgt. Fred Porter with the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office. The agency was unable to provide us with a copy of the release form Wednesday afternoon, but said they could work on obtaining a copy.

Two men dressed in black shirts and blue jeans arrived at the Sheriff's Office District 2 Headquarters Wednesday afternoon indentifying themselves as show representatives to the Sheriff's Office receptionist.

When we later attempted to ask one of the men questions, he claimed to have no knowledge of the COPS production and later denied he was even affiliated with the show.

Corey Robinson's mother Joy says she's upset over how the situation was handled and worries how it might impact her son's future.

"There has to be something illegal, for these young boys to sign their rights away like that," says Joy Robinson adding her son has never been in trouble with the law before. "He is going to be labeled and not get a decent job when he graduates from school. Yes, it upsets me."

Los Angeles based Langley Productions is the company that produces COPS. Calls placed to their office were not returned Wednesday.