ORLANDO, Fla. – A man who said he was pepper sprayed by Orlando police while recording officers downtown last week is now facing criminal charges connected to the incident.

James Lake told News 6 he was near the intersection of Central Boulevard and Orange Avenue around 3 a.m. on Sept. 1 when officers sprayed him with pepper spray. Video he recorded shows police telling him to move farther away while they were detaining another person during bar closing hours.

According to an arrest warrant, officers repeatedly ordered Lake to step back at least 25 feet, which is the distance required under Florida’s new “halo law.” The law, which took effect this year, allows people to record police but requires them to keep a minimum distance from officers performing their duties.

Attorney Mark NeJam

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