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According to a news release from Dorchester County, the complaint was filed March 20 about an incident that occurred earlier that day at the Dorchester County Department of Corrections. The news release states the council’s office immediately contacted the State’s Attorney’s Office so that it could determine whether a criminal investigation is “warranted.�

The incident was filmed and posted on YouTube by the user Long Island Audit. In , entitled “Unhinged Jail Warden ATTACKS Journalist For Recording! Sheriff REFUSES To Take Criminal Complaint!� Dorchester County Warden Don Satterfield appears to push the person who is filming.

The person filming, who identified himself as independent journalist Sean Reyes, says in the video that he is at the Dorchester County Department of Corrections “to peacefully exercise our first amendment right to film public and publicly accessible areas to promote transparency and accountability within our government and to ensure that our public servants recognize our rights and treat us with respect.�

According to his YouTube channel, Reyes conducts and films First Amendment audits.

First Amendment auditors are people, typically private citizens, who film encounters with public employees and officials, according to the Local Government Insurance Trust. Oftentimes, the auditors enter public property and ask questions while filming.

In the video, Satterfield, who is seen with other county employees, tells Reyes that under Maryland law, phones are prohibited in detention centers. In the video, Reyes is told multiple times by different correctional employees that he cannot have his phone inside the building.

When Satterfield tells Reyes to get out of the building, Reyes replies, “Do not touch me, sir.�

Satterfield then says, “I said get out of the building,� and appears to push Reyes.

In another scene of the video, Reyes says, “I got assaulted by the warden of the correctional facility.�

Later in the video, Reyes is seen trying to file a complaint with the Dorchester County Sheriff’s Office. The Sheriff’s Office directs him to file the complaint with Dorchester County Manager Jerry Jones.

In an interview Wednesday, Jones told ¾ÅÉ«ÊÓƵ the county has been receiving calls from all over the country regarding the matter.

The practice of First Amendment auditing is something that occurs across the United States.

Easton Deputy Police Chief Capt. Greg Wright said that in February 2022, Easton officers were given information and discussed best practices when it comes to speaking with First Amendment auditors. Wright said First Amendment auditors try to “push the envelope� and have a goal of catching someone that knows less than them. He said it is the job of police officers to understand the law.

“You don’t want to take action when you shouldn’t have or not take action when you should have,� he said.

Regarding the complaint filed in Dorchester County, Jones said he could not comment further on the matter because an active investigation is underway.

Dorchester County State’s Attorney Amanda Leonard, who confirmed the matter is under investigation, said she could not comment on the matter either.

Satterfield and Reyes did not respond for comment.