[jasonlotito]

Well, we don't know it was the FBI. The story doesn't say anything other than 'federal service', and even uses the quotes. So, I imagine someone masquerading as FBI, or trying to pull off that impression. Granted, it could just be the FBI being dicks.

[diydsp]

My bet is some private contractors hired by the film industry.

In the past, I have seen stories about lens detectors in theatres which work by beaming IR into the audience. I have also seen stories about watermarks in films to encode location.

If it's true there have been filmers caught there, they may have conceivably been on location that evening ready to pounce. They probably have travel to regional theatres and wait for hours for the lens detectors to go off.

My bet is the contractors have some belief the crime is a federal case, having watched a DVD intro, so they feel justified to claim they are "with" the federal services.

edit: see this link to the related federal law: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=7093540

Anyone who is friends with cops knows how jealous mall cops and security guards are of the real thing. I'm sure the same applies for contracted IP enforcers.

Hence their excitement, power-tripping and the local cops- to actually perform the arrest as the private security firm has no authority to do so.

Mods should change title from "arrested by FBI" to harrassed by cops and strangers.

[ben1040]

>My bet is some private contractors hired by the film industry.

Over on the private forums for Glass owners, the person reporting this story mentioned the company name of the person from the "Movie Association." Some folks looked him up and apparently he has his own private investigation firm.

Sounds to me that the MPAA must hire PIs to represent itself in various cities, and they must like to go all Jack Bauer if they think they've got something.

[nknighthb]

If this person wasn't a federal agent, they committed a felony punishable by up to three years in prison the moment they stuck the badge in his face and claimed to be "federal" anything. This is aside from the litany of other crimes and torts committed throughout the interrogation.

[adventured]

It was DHS as it turns out (has been confirmed officially).