Artist Charged With Felony Under Illinois Statutes For Audio Recording His Arrest

[OooHesGood]

FUCK THE GOVERNMENT & THE PIGS, they steal our rights and our power, they steal our money to build a military they use to steal oil and when we try and fight back they will turn OUR military against us and call is Marshall LAW... They will all pay the price when God lays down judgement!!!

[mba2ceo]

We need an UPDATE ...

[dogstar7]

@mba2ceo Yes, I agree.

Chis has been diagnosed with lung cancer. The trail has been placed in recess indefinitely until he is well enough to return. I'll try to sit with him soon, if he's feeling up to it. Thanks for asking

[YuLost2X]

so what if u tell the officer that your video and audio recording? Is it still illegal or?

[biorgymd]

I have a question? So can we assume that it would be illegal to video tape and record a political rally? Let’s say Obama’s Presidential Victory speech, how many people where there in Chicago in Grant Park with video cameras recording his speech. I’m sure it was in the thousands, just YouTube it. If this man is arrested for such, then all the people who recorded Obama’s Presidential Victory Speech should be arrested as well.

[dogstar7]

@biorgymd

If this is a serious question, the answer is that they can all bring charges, if they care to. As the state law stands, they certainly could. It's obvious that the trial judge would exercise his discretion and toss such a case out. That's one of the problems; arbitrary prosecution

[biorgymd]

@dogstar7 This is very scary, actually horrifying. This is very scary, actually horrifying. Was this on the news there in Chicago? Are the people aware of this? How is this man? I read he had cancer, are they going to convict him?

[dogstar7]

@biorgymd

Yes, Chris is undergoing chemo right now. His trial has been postponed, but he is still under indictment. There are others now in state penitentiary as we speak

[SilverFox466]

This guy looks a bit crazy in the eyes.

[QunahMelchizedec]

The Supreme court ruled that the FBI could place GPS tracking devices on someones vehicle without a warrant. I don't see how that is much different than placing a hidden camera in someones home or bathroom shower. Your vehicle is your private property and for them to be able to legally put a GPS device on your car is a violation of your Rights. Their rationale is that your private vehicle is in a public place so its ok. I say video and audio is a RIGHT!!! Not unlawful. It does NOT breach peace.

[dogstar7]

@QunahMelchizedec "... placing a hidden camera in someones home or bathroom shower." You had me ...then you lost me. The shower idea; re-think, seriously.

[QunahMelchizedec]

@dogstar7 putting a camera in anyone's private home in or on any of their private property is an invasion of privacy. Putting a GPS tracker on your car is no different than putting a camera in someones shower if you ask me. It's invasive. But having a camera recording in public and then they want to say you were eaves dropping.....c'mon they have cameras on their dash with recording devices. This is a clear misapplication of the Statute.

[QunahMelchizedec]

@dogstar7 the Statute was written to serve and protect the People. It was created and intended to keep Us safe. The Statute was NOT written with protecting the Police from prosecution in mind. It wasn't written to keep us from recording Crimes and Violations committed by those sworn to uphold the law and protect Our Rights. They are not moving forward according to the Letter, Intent , and the Rule of the Law.

[dogstar7]

@QunahMelchizedec Thanks for your interest. There will be another DogStar7 video with Mr.Drew and his attorney in the next few days. They will be better able to explain the states' charges against Mr. Drew. Everything you mentioned is being considered. CCTV and publicly accessible cameras are everywhere. Most people carry cell phones with video and audio recording capabilities. It simply isn't feasible to enforce these statutes.

[QunahMelchizedec]

Also why would anyone need the permission from another Man or a Legal Fiction such as a Corporation, which is what the City and State are, to sell their art work? That is the same stupid thinking that one is required to have permission to Traval as in a Drivers License. I deny that i am a "driver" I'm a traveler and We all have the Right of/to Travel and therefore do not need permission or a license to exercise that Right. No entity with or without a pulse can prove otherwise.

[QunahMelchizedec]

First of all Statutes are NOT laws. They are rules given the force of Law. A Crime has elements like a cake has ingredients. 1)something happens 2)Someone or something is Damaged 3) Intent 4 Breach of the Peace. If an peace officer hasn't observed you breach the peace then he has no jurisdiction to engage you.

[Anothercoilgun]

All gun grapping states make draconian laws. The wonder which has cause the masses to believe is the fictitious entities laws is both great and beyond my comprehension. Then again, you law abiding sheep are just that.

[Mindcrime121]

Another example of creative compounded taxation, when you have to buy a license (a form of taxation in itself) just to peddle little things like that on the street to make a living, and then file with the IRS if you make enough to BE taxed in the first place from doing it. As for the right to record something you yourself are involved in, in a face to face environment, that should fall under different laws than tapping someone elses phone or planting a bug on THEM or their office.

[TehJonneh]

I've had a bad run-in with certain policemen, and if I had recorded the dialogue that had taken place, he probably wouldn't be serving anymore. He was an awful man, and I have no proof of what he did. I wished I could've recorded the conversation...and now I find out that there's a law prohibiting that. Now I just have one thing to say...

How fucked up is THAT?

My sympathy goes out to you, mister. You're in my thoughts and prayers.

[reformgovernment1]

We ALL know the reason cops don't want to be recorded... Crimes!

[ARTG33K74]

I am so glad you are challenging this and grateful for your activism. I supported the Taylor-Pirc Project where citizens raised money privately to put cameras in squad cars because the police could not afford to [different county], so this is ironic! I also wish I could street vend my art but the cost and laws are convoluted and ridiculous, designed to preventing me and others from even trying.

[younitehumanity]

There should be a law that ALL Lawenforcement officers must take DMT before they get hired. Perhaps then they would see the true reality.

[QunahMelchizedec]

@younitehumanity Amen to that!!

[jvercellino]

dogstar7, the answer to your first question is, yes, if the devices were used to record the audio portion of any police activity. The same thing holds for recording the action of Emergency Medical and Fire personnel. It's actually for anyone. If all the parties being recorded do not consent to being recorded, it's in violation of the statute.

[jvercellino]

It's true. If you read the Illinois statute, he is in violation of the statute on wiretapping / eavesdropping because he did not secure the permission of BOTH parties to record the discussion or exchange. However, a camera is NOT considered an eavesdropping devide. One could take as many still pictures as they like and as quickly as they like.

[dogstar7]

@jvercellino

That's a very good distinction.

Here's my question: Since few people disable the sound recording capabilities of their cellphone cameras, are they all in jeopardy of arrest and felony prosecution in Illinois if they happen to record the audio portion of any police activity? How about Emergency Medical and Fire personnel? They fall under this class also. If you shoot video of a fire or an auto accident - watch out!

[MARKETEX41YRS]

watch?v=ORlv31rAUaU

[HolyFuckinShitBatman]

Ah the irony of freedom. One mans freedom is another mans prison.

[camochannel1]

welcome to the peoples republic of america.

[boatbrain2]

Has the constitutionality of this law been challenged in court? You should not be forbidden from videotaping the police, you should have a constitutional right to videotape them any time. And the courts should be happy you are doing it, it's the best evidence in court.

Please try to sue in Federal court to get this law overthrown.

[TheFloydsta]

the government fears the man with the joint and the paintbrush, one mans image has done much more than standing armys, they know this. beware of the man.

[hipnoticed]

@TheFloydsta its not the government they are just puppets

[lovemychaingun]

OMG - a common artist attempting to scratch out a living using our capitalist system in a logical and just way!? FOR SHAME! Cage the peasant! He hasn't any oil or military; we shall make an example of him, that others might well learn their place!

[rdhayes06]

@lovemychaingun You sir are an idiot. He is trying to capitalize on his work. There is so much hypocrisy dripping from your lips. Your propose a system that would give him an advantage over what you call "capitalists" but still it is a system of favoritism.

[epohnopulse]

@lovemychaingun He was actually trying to see how long it would take for the cops to take action and arrest them for a Federal "crime" in Illinois which is selling art. BUT they decided to charge him with the felony crime in Illinois where recording law enforcement is illegal. He wanted to record his arrest and make a point about the federal crime of selling his art on the street by recording it, it took them almost two months to end up arresting him.

[doofmann0]

Buh-buh-buh-buht the poncho!

[opalzone]

How can you eavesdrop on your own arrest?

How did they know what was on the recording?

[timmiet47321]

You admitted that you hid the recording device in the pocket of your poncho. And don't tell me that you didn't hide it. You knew it was there and you knew it was running. Next time I suggest you keep it in the open and quit being so secretive.

I'm all for 1st Amendment rights but be smarter about it and go about it the right way.

[Rockgod2099]

Wow, CPD acting ridiculous again. Good luck fighting this bogus charge.

[crimsong19]

That's crazy!

- Jason