Today, Pentagon Police detained multiple people outside REI Bailey’s Crossroads in Virginia. Photos shared on Reddit by a witness show three people sitting on the sidewalk while four Pentagon officers stood over them. At one point, two of the officers took out their phones to film the bystander taking their pictures. Though the officers wore Pentagon uniforms and insignia, their use of unmarked vehicles is all too familiar. It was just days ago that masked ICE agents detained a Tufts PhD student. Secret policing was on the rise in the U.S. even before Donald Trump. Now, Virginia must face it.
REI Bailey’s Crossroads Gets Pentagon Police Visit
With the police arresting protestors and ICE conducting nationwide raids, seeing people detained or arrested is common. Unfortunately, the lack of context leaves much about the Bailey’s Crossroads incident unclear. As one commenter on the story said, “Well considering there is a DoD building a block north and PPD has jurisdiction there, this seems not that unusual [Sic].” Others shared their own stories of temporary detentions by the Pentagon police after inadvertently driving into the agency’s parking lot.
The Reddit post by u/Slow-Aside-4593 about the Pentagon cops at Bailey’s Crossroads received many concerned comments. “Is an officer taking a picture of you while you’re taking a picture of him?” said one Redditor. When the OP confirmed that was the case, another chimed in with a grim assessment: “They have found the next target.” One commenter suggested using the Freedom of Information Act to get the pictures the officers took, saying,
Submit a FOIA request for their copy of the photo
Without knowing why the Pentagon police detained the people at Bailey’s Crossroads, it’s hard to say whether copies would help. Still, keeping tabs on law enforcement activities is wise. That’s especially true when the police are using anonymity to assist in detaining and disappearing people. It’s unclear whether those detained at Bailey’s Crossroads are now free or remain in detention. The fact that there’s any doubt about their wellbeing should be warning enough.
