A British IT consultant recently described a harrowing experience after being arrested for posting a photo of himself with a firearm during a trip to the United States.
John Richelieu Booth, who runs Phoenix Evolution Consulting, shared that the troubles began when he visited a friend in Florida to celebrate Independence Day and his 50th birthday.
While there, he received an invitation to shoot a gun for the first time. “They were all shooting, and as a British guy who had never handled a weapon, I thought, why not?” he recalled.
After returning to the UK, Booth posted several photos from his trip on LinkedIn. A couple of days later, police arrived at his home, informing him of a complaint regarding one of his posts.
They cautioned him to be mindful of what he shares online. About ten days later, though, police returned at 10:30 p.m., broke into his residence, and arrested him.
He learned that his arrest stemmed from the firearm photo, which an official claimed was linked to “stalking and harassment.” He was interrogated and spent the night in custody before being released.
Weeks later, he was arrested again for allegedly violating bail conditions, which he insisted stemmed from a false claim.
Booth explained that the complaint was related to a disagreement with a former client. “I had worked with this man’s business to provide services to the government, and he hadn’t paid for two years,” he stated.
He mentioned that his business partner took the photo outside the man’s property while delivering a final demand letter and insisted it was legal since it was taken publicly.
“My arrest was based on two social media posts,” he noted. “One was me holding a shotgun, clearly uncomfortable, and the other was his LinkedIn header photo.” He added, “There was no proof I had been to that address, yet I was arrested.”
Following his release, he faced charges regarding a third post, which authorities said could lead to “harassment, fear, alarm, and distress.” However, those charges were later dropped by the Crown Prosecution Service.
Booth reflected on how the ordeal impacted him. “Since disabling LinkedIn, I’ve lost my Premium trial, which I used for client connections. I couldn’t even run the Teams show I hosted to help other contractors. The fear and embarrassment were overwhelming, making me feel isolated from my community.”
He’s now contemplating legal action against West Yorkshire Police, expressing frustration over freedom of speech in the UK. “Honestly, it feels like there’s no real freedom. People are getting locked up over tweets; it’s absurd. It’s reminiscent of George Orwell’s ‘1984,’ not as a guide, but as a warning.”
Booth admitted feeling unsafe in the UK and is seriously considering moving to the US. “I lost my parents in a traffic accident last year. One moment, my family was there; the next, they were gone. My adoptive American family has been incredibly welcoming, making me think about relocating. The constitutional rights there, both the First and Second Amendments, are appealing,” he explained.
His story has garnered international attention, with discussions even involving Elon Musk, who remarked, “This underscores the importance of the First and Second Amendments in America.”
A spokesperson for West Yorkshire Police stated that Booth was initially charged over a complaint related to his LinkedIn post, adding that the case was dismissed later on. They mentioned that police had received a serious complaint about stalking, which included the firearm photos, interpreted by the complainant as threatening.
Fox News Digital has reached out to the Crown Prosecution Service for further commentary.
