NEW PHOTOS & VIDEO EVIDENCE: Photojournalist hospitalized after...

Above photos: New photos show the moment beach staff calls out to woman named “Patti” (see yellow arrow) as photojournalist approaches beach gate… (As you will hear in the following video, a beach employee consults with woman named “Patti” just prior to banning photojournalist from public beach.)

NEW ENHANCED VIDEO SHOWS A PHOTOJOURNALIST, WHO IS ALSO A LIFELONG TOWN RESIDENT, BEING TREATED EXTREMELY POORLY AND BEING DENIED ACCESS TO A PUBLIC BEACH, EVEN AFTER A POLICE SERGEANT SAID IT WAS OKAY TO ENTER – PRESS PLAY (Look below for complete video…)

We have a huge problem in the Town of Barnstable.

Running Hyannis News has been an extremely difficult journey. Without getting too much into it at this time, my First Amendment Rights have been consistently violated along the way by certain Town of Barnstable officials holding positions of authority. Many of these violations have been captured on video and may be released at a later date.

Not being a rich man in terms of money, my rights are just about the only thing I have in this world aside from family, friends, and a 12-year-old rescued terrier.

But for me, simply having the support of friends and family, along with the important role of documenting breaking news as it happens, has made me feel wealthy and valued on so many other levels.

But again, the HN journey has definitely not been a prosperous one in terms of money, the stuff needed to pay for basic creature comforts and to pay off bills. HN has barely managed to survive on media sales to other news outlets, but amazingly I have survived! [I often kid that HN consistently manages to keep the pasta in my mouth 🙂 ]

It’s hard work and I typically spend about 60 to 80 hours (or more) each week following potential leads. But if I don’t deliver, I simply do not get paid for my time and efforts. It is not unusual to go weeks without making a cent. But again, the positive feedback I receive from the thousands of HN readers, along with the knowledge I have provided an important service has been enough to tide me over through these lean times…

I started HN in February of 2013 and have been operating on a daily shoestring budget. At times it can take its toll in terms of high levels of stress. But for the most part it’s enjoyable, especially when I’m allowed to exercise my rights and do what I love, which is capturing news as it happens. But there are also times when people treat you poorly… and that really sucks.

So why even do it?

In short, the people of this region need and enjoy compelling eye-opening and informative stories, photos, and video footage. Up until 2013, the available news and media in this area was limited and one-dimensional at best.

I strongly believe HyannisNews.com readers deserve a truthful look into what is going on here in ‘HyTown,’ the hub of Cape Cod.

HN enjoys sharing “good” news, but I will not shy away from reporting the stark realities, issues, and problems readers need to know about.

HN’s philosophy is that the truth is the best disinfectant… which means we cannot fix our problems without first knowing they exist. And I believe HN reports have made a difference, shedding light on areas where we can improve.

A main goal of HN is simply to promote stories you will not find anywhere else, while also providing TV news quality video and images of news as it happens. I take ‘video quality’ very seriously and believe HN has provided spot news shots of a caliber never before seen here on Cape Cod.

The sole reward for my efforts is that HN viewership has consistently reached up into the millions on the HyannisNews.com website alone. HN also has over 8600 regular followers (a number that grows daily) on our developing Facebook page. A week ago, a popular HN evening post reached just under 25,000 views by the next day! Stories have received multiple times that number when they go viral. It’s exciting, but having so many viewers is not only encouraging, it’s an important responsibility I don’t take lightly.

It’s a miracle to me HyannisNews.com has grown at a rate which far exceeded all expectations. Aside from local viewership, HN stories have been viewed both regionally and across the country… and in some cases, across the world!

HN photos, video footage, and information have been featured on the following news sources:

WBZ Channel 4 News,

WCVB Channel 5 News,

WHDH Channel 7 News,

FOX 25 NEWS,

Infowars.com,

NECN,

PhotographyIsNotACrime.com,

Coast to Coast AM (coasttocoastam.com),

WLVI Channel 56 News,

WSBK Channel 38 News,

BarstoolSports.com,

CNN,

Fox News (National),

ABC (National),

NBC (National),

CBS (National),

The Today Show,

Good Morning America,

HBO,

Farallon Films,

TMZ,

Newsy,

The Daily Mail,

The Mail Online,

TheRealCape.com,

Time Warner Cable News,

Fios 1 News,

WABC (NY),

WPRI (Providence),

WJAR (Providence),

The Boston Herald,

The Boston Globe,

The Washington Times,

New York Daily News,

Boston.com,

Cape Cod Times,

REELZ TV,

Asylum Entertainment,

The Barnstable Patriot,

The Associated Press (AP),

and many others…

But having said all that, what you will witness in the following video makes me question the direction I will be taking from this point forward. I would like to continue reporting the news unfettered with my civil rights protected. But since 2013, while receiving huge support from the majority of government employees in the region, HN has also be consistently harassed by others.

Each time someone violates my rights or interferes with me during the course of documenting a scene, the adrenalin kicks in. I basically know when my rights are being violated because of how I feel when others are trying to subjugate me or purposefully block my efforts. My rights are important; aside from God, friends, and family, they are the only things I have in this world.

As you will hear in the following video, on my way to cover a potential drowning on a public beach, employees at the gate were waiting specifically for me with the intention of blocking my access. At first I told the girl that I would comply, wanting to at least capture a shot from where I stood. I then noticed that the beach was full with the general public! The scene was not cleared of people, there was no crime scene tape. Others were walking around freely. A Barnstable Police Sergeant even informed the beach employee that I was with the media and it was alright for me to enter. But the gate keeper said “No, Patty asked for him not to…” Which basically meant that it was alright for everyone else except me!

UPDATE: I’m told that gate attendant was referring to Patti Machado, Leisure Services Director for the Town of Barnstable…

This was so upsetting to me my heart started to race. I took some quick shots and told the beach employees I wanted to speak with this “Patty” person. She saw that I was there, but after I finished shooting she hastily left the beach. I managed to get some footage, but was hardly able to capture all of the elements that are ideal according to my standards and those of the local news desks… the stuff needed to make a living.

My heart continued to race…

I have a heart condition that acts up under moments of extreme undue stress (like when someone violates my rights and blocks my efforts to make a living). I can go years without this occurring, but when it happens it’s painful and potentially life threatening. In short, I spent the remainder of the evening at CCH. My heart reaches nearly 200 beats per minute when this happens. It’s not necessarily anxiety, but often causes anxiety as it’s happening. My heart takes on a life of it’s own and is hard to reset. Sometimes they actually have to stop my heart just to reset it. By the time I was in the ambulance, I managed to get my heart rate down to 150 bpm. It remained dangerously high for the next several hours. It’s a painful and uncomfortable situation which only occurs under extreme and unusual undue stress.

Again, this is not the first time that a Town of Barnstable official has violated my civil rights. There are numerous videos of those occasions, which I’ll perhaps revisit in the days to come.

We have a huge problem in the Town of Barnstable whenever the rights of any one person are violated by government officials! It’s upsetting, demoralizing, and discouraging. And when it also interferes with a private citizen trying to make a living, it’s especially sad and humiliating.

🙁

[FULL VIDEO – Press play… select HD in the settings and enlarge the player for best quality…]

Above photos: The moment the beach staff calls out to woman named “Patti” (see yellow arrow) as photojournalist approaches beach gate… (As you will hear in the following video, a beach employee consults with woman named “Patti” just prior to banning photojournalist from public beach.)

Above photo: Banned… The moment photojournalist was denied entry to public beach to do his job…

P.S. – Today I’m at home, tired out and a bit sore, but otherwise resting comfortably with my dog at my side. I would like to thank all of my friends who reached out on Facebook and by phone last evening, your support means the world to me.

As for the potential drowning, here is a brief COMM FD press statement:

At approximately 3:30pm the Centerville, Osterville, Marstons Mills (COMM) Fire Department received a cell phone call from Covells Beach in Centerville reporting a possible drowning victim. Upon arrival fire department personnel found life guards, bystanders and Barnstable Police officers on the beach performing CPR on an 86 year old man. Reportedly the man was seen floating face down in the water by beach goers who then alerted the life guards on duty. A life guard entered the water and pull the man to shore. The patient was transported to Cape Cod Hospital by COMM Fire Department ambulance. The patient’s condition at the time of this press release is still unknown.

7/16/2016

Robert Bastille,

Follow @NewsHyannis