FLINT, MI -- An attorney with the American Civil Liberties Union of Michigan said Flint police officers appear to have violated the constitutional rights of an outspoken Flint political activist when they arrested him outside of his Carriage Town home.

Adam Gerics was arrested Sept. 27 by a Flint police officer outside of his home on Stone Street near University Avenue as he videotaped and shouted profanity at a Flint police officer who was talking to one of Gerics' neighbors.

The video shows a Flint police officer arresting Gerics after Gerics questions why the officer and a neighbor are walking by the front of his house. Gerics said he and the neighbor have had an ongoing dispute and the neighbor has since gotten a personal protection order against him.

"From the video I viewed, it appears that the Flint police officers violated the videographer's constitutional rights," said Michael J. Steinberg, legal director for the Michigan ACLU.

The video of the arrest has been viewed more than 57,000 times since it was posted Thursday, Oct. 3, on the video sharing site Live Leak.

City spokesman Jason Lorenz declined to comment on the arrest. Police union representatives could not be reached for comment.

Gerics operates a medical marijuana compassion club, claims membership in the Flint chapter of Anonymous -- an activist group that has protested everything from government surveillance to genetically modified food -- and has been a vocal opponent of many decisions made during the state takeover of the city.

The video from in front of his home, Gerics said. It shows a neighbor and a plainclothes police officer walking near a nearby house. The two men then walk by Gerics' home and Gerics can be heard making accusations about his neighbor.

Gerics then accuses them of harassment and twice uses an expletive. The officer, whose badge can be seen hanging around his neck, then approaches Gerics.

"Come here. I want to talk to you," the officer is heard saying to Gerics.

"Why? What are you, a cop?" Gerics asks. "You going to screw with me?"

"Yep, I sure am," the officer responds.

"Why? What did I do?" Gerics is heard asking the officer.

"You're under arrest for breach of peace," the officer responds.

Gerics was then put under arrest and transported to the Flint city lock-up where he claims he was strip-searched and held for 72 hours before being released. Court records do not show any charges filed against Gerics.

Genesee County Sheriff Robert Pickell, who oversees the city lockup, confirmed that Gerics was brought to the lockup by a Flint officer for disturbing the peace and released Sept. 30 pending further investigation. Pickell said all inmates are booked and strip-searched when they are brought to the lockup.

"I have the right to film whoever I want walking up the street whether they are a cop or not," Gerics said.

The ACLU agrees.

"It is well established that Americans have the right to verbally oppose or challenge the actions of police officers, even if they do so using foul language," Steinberg said. "Additionally, the courts have held that individuals have a First Amendment right to videotape police officers' actions in public."

Gerics and his attorney, Thomas Lavigne, said they are finalizing plans to file a lawsuit against the department over the arrest.

"Given their job they have to have thicker skin," Lavigne said.

You can watch the video here. WARNING: Video contains explicit language