Policy

Phone Snatch Gets D.C. Cops Sued

They stole the device just one day after being told to do nothing of the sort

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The ACLU has sued the District of Columbia and two police officers for allegedly seizing the cellphone of a man who photographed a police officer allegedly mistreating a citizen, and for then stealing his memory card.

The suit, filed in federal court in Washington, D.C., alleges that the police officer violated Earl Staley, Jr.'s First Amendment and Fourth Amendment rights by improperly searching and seizing his property while he was exercising his right to photograph the police performing their duty.