Man Faces 75 Years In Prison For Filming Police In Public

By on September 1, 2011 in News 66

Despite no criminal history, Michael Allison may spend the remainder of his life behind bars as punishment for recording his (unexciting) interactions with officers who stopped by his mother’s home, where he repairs old cars. (The concern was that some of the vehicles were unregistered.) After griping to the local police department about selective enforcement and presenting his recordings as evidence, Allison was charged with five counts of eavesdropping, a class one felony. Why jail him? To send the message that documenting the actions of public officials will not be tolerated.

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  • Noone

    Welcome to your Police State, try to go limp.

  • Noone

    Welcome to your Police State, try to go limp.

  • Anonymous

    This is fucking ridiculous. The cops can film us, but we can’t film them. I hate Big Brother.

  • EvolutionSolutionCushion

    I can’t take much more of this.  The amount of legal abuse is uncanny.  When it is popular knowledge that the only real criminals are the ones fighting crime, we have a serious issue at hand.

  • Wanooski

    Police state is knocking at your door, don’t let them in, they’ll shoot your dog for fun. In which case I’d white out and wake up in a pool of blood and limbs.

  • LegalizeTheConstitution

    WE CANNOT TOLERATE THIS! 

    Call your public officials and tell them how you feel!

    THIS IS THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA!            NOT NAZI GERMANY!

    My blood is boiling just thinking about how evil this is..

  • Rodneypopper

    Orwell would be proud… Welcome to the Police State!
    Are we not told in grade school that bullying is wrong? Grown-up bullies need to have their asses paddled!

  • Rodneypopper

    Orwell would be proud… Welcome to the Police State!
    Are we not told in grade school that bullying is wrong? Grown-up bullies need to have their asses paddled!

  • Rodneypopper

    Orwell would be proud… Welcome to the Police State!
    Are we not told in grade school that bullying is wrong? Grown-up bullies need to have their asses paddled!

  • Andrew

     http://disinfo.com/2010/10/as-more-bullying-victims-commit-suicide-right-wing-groups-decry-anti-bullying-policies-as-%E2%80%98gay-agenda%E2%80%99-ploy/

  • Andrew

    Rodney King won’t happen again.  Any fucking hippie that films the police beating up a nigger from here on in is gonna get ass raped in prison for a few years.

  • ChristianHypocrite

    > THIS IS THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA!  NOT NAZI GERMANY!

    What’s in a name, anyways?  All you are missing is mass killings, but you have everything else.  So I guess you are right.  Not Nazi Germany, Godwin’s Law, etc.  Don’t mention it unless it’s happening, learn from the present, not the past, and only look forward!!

  • ChristianHypocrite

    Hey, the majority of us *voted* to bask safely in the warm glow of propaganda, so quit your complainin!

    Start taking your government approved pharmaceuticals and plant your ass in front of the television.  It just makes life easier.  :)  

  • CancerJesus

    I’d rather die than take that advise. What a stupid fucking statement. I just hope your joking…

  • Andrew

    I think we got the mass killings covered a long time ago, with the genocide of the native Americans.

  • http://voxmagi-necessarywords.blogspot.com/ VoxMagi

    I think we really need to push more people into awareness of how to cover their track while filming cops…and how to release and coverage gathered anonymously so that they can reveal footage with less fear of ‘revenge attacks’ by roid raging gangsters with badges…which is all this is.

    The era of being safely able to expect a two way street for monitoring is over. The clampdowns are only just starting…but they won’t stop because the value of preventing revelations that might force accountability is just too great. They can stare at you with impunity, monitor you, spy on you, research you and even harass and physically search you…but you can’t catch them in the act of shaking down innocents on a whim…or fulfilling grudge missions against people have done no real wrong (other than offending them somehow).

    The safest bet is to start working on patterns of behavior that draw less attention and lines of communication that are less easy to trace…and likewise make sure that the word gets out so that people can employ that info. We gotta take it to another level…and never let the pressure off. Make em work for that dollar like we do…make em sweat to crush that info flow…make em rage when they can’t stop the tide. Make sure that for every pain thrust upon us…the other side suffers equal or worse.

  • CosmicAmazing

    So I guess, short of Obama changing his name to Hitler. When the fuck are people going to wake up and realize this country has gone way off track. We are not long off from FEMA concentration camps and mass killings.. I just sneaked into a FEMA camp in the new Deus Ex game, it wasn’t pretty. They got robots and shit! 

  • Anonymous

    I wonder what the “wiretapping” laws are in Illinois or if his lawyer will be able to use a similar argument to the one a few days ago who won because the judge said the police were acting unconstitutionally: http://abovethelaw.com/2011/09/first-circuit-has-no-sympathy-for-cops-who-say-dont-tape-me-bro/ Problem is he might need to tell them that he’s taping for it to be legal as several states have restrictions on taping people without their knowledge.

  • Spiderman

    Pitchforks and torches people! Where’s the angry mob when we need em? Oh yea that’s right, their all in their parents basement playing World of Warcraft.. Hey guess what? I just heard Blizzard is giving people 3 months free if they video tape as many police officers as they can…. And whoever video tapes the most cops gets “The Sword of 1000 Truths!”  

  • CosmicAmazing

    I think the police were “unaware” they were being filmed. That’s they only way the case would go through..

  • RepulsedNinja

    NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO! This is wrong on soooooo many levels…    1984 anyone?

  • RepulsedNinja

    NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO! This is wrong on soooooo many levels…    1984 anyone?

  • MasoMystic

    I think the mass killings are still in effect. Ask anyone who lives in the middle east and im sure they will tell you. America are the biggest terrorists on Earth and soon even the Americans themselves wont have a place to run or hide. Better catch up on your favorite TV programming because soon the shit will hit the fan. And quite honestly It might be the best thing for us, that is if we can eliminate those who want to eliminate us. Sigh…the warning signs have been here for decades and all people wanted to do was laugh and point fingers and stand up for these idiots. And for your scholars out there that shut anyone down with an opinion on these subjects outside of academia, remember this..You are taught to read in school. You are not taught to think. A degree only shows that you are a well trained monkey. It does not give you a license to think you know everything. And if you dont agree with that look around, take a long hard look at your society and tell me that your well trained skills didnt play a part in this.

  • Adaugeo

    Print this up and keep with you at all times. Go ahead and film, then present this when harassed. http://www.ca1.uscourts.gov/pdf.opinions/10-1764P-01A.pdf

    It’s federally protected for us to film public officials in public. Make sure you have two recorders running simultaneously with only one they can see. The best is having a friend film you hand them this document and stand up for your rights. Get ready for a possible beating, arrest, illegal detainment, but you will win in the end.

  • SwishyFishy

    That wont work because the police were “unaware” they were being recorded. Which is a violation of the wiretapping law. Mr Glik had stated out loud that he was recording the police, and that’s why he won.

    Read more into it..

  • http://www.ContraControl.com/ Zenc

    The DA in this case is named Tom Wiseman.

    Here’s his address and phone #. If you feel strongly on this issue, perhaps you should contact him and politely explain to him what you think of his actions in this case.

    Tom Wiseman

    Crawford County Courthouse

    105 Douglas St.

    Robinson, IL  62454

    618-546-1505

    Fax 618-544-4912 

  • RepulsedNinja

    I think I love you…   

  • SarcasticCat

    Hitler would be proud to see America the way it is today. Remember that.

  • SarcasticCat

    Hitler would be proud to see America the way it is today. Remember that.

  • SamIam

    Ha! With the Jews running everything, he would be shitting his pants.. Or did you forget what happened back then? 

  • http://www.ContraControl.com/ Zenc

    I get that from time to time, but generally it’s just the Stockholm Syndrome talking… sigh.

  • RepulsedNinja

    And the lack of abuse make me like you more… Oh no, you were right…

  • RepulsedNinja

    And the lack of abuse make me like you more… Oh no, you were right…

  • RepulsedNinja

    And the lack of abuse make me like you more… Oh no, you were right…

  • http://twitter.com/jasonpaulhayes jasonpaulhayes

    U.S. Courts ruled this week that recording Police is legal !!!

  • http://hormeticminds.blogspot.com/ Chaorder Gradient

    more incentive for the second hidden camera.

  • Wanooski

    I dunno about hitler, but I’m sure fascists in general are pleased.

  • Wanooski

    1.5 million dead Iraqis don’t lie.

  • Atsin310

    I just made a TShirt for when you are protesting or “filming” police so you can have a legal disclaimer worn on your body when the police harass you in public.

    http://www.zazzle.com/smile_you_are_being_filmed_tshirt-235969487952507510

  • Anonymous

    I totally disagree. That is the coward way out.  We have to stand up and continue to fight for our rights like the man in this video.  We should never get to the point were we are willing to duck and hide to protect a false since of freedom.  I am the President of one of the largest Labor Union Locals in the State of NC and faced getting arrested today for publicly demonstrating in support for Verizon Workers getting a fair contract.  If we had the duck and hide mentality all Working Class Blue Collar workers would be making minimum wages, and no medical benefits.

  • Anonymous

    So were blaming this on Obama also.  I guess Bush was the best President we ever had. Bush never led us into war and lied about it.  Bush never raised the national debt, and he could come out in 1st place in any spelling B!!!

  • http://www.ContraControl.com/ Zenc

    I understand your sentiment ewop07, but not everyone is willing to go to the wall on every issue.

    We each have to do what we can. Some of us have to face off and some of us have to flank around and snipe from the sidelines.

    Let me congratulate you on your work with the Union. Are you CWA there or IBEW?  Verizon is Big Evil in my book and anyone who stands up to them, especially a Union, has my respect in that regard. I hope you guys win and I hope the boys up in the Northeast don’t cave, now that they’re back at work.

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_WSPVLVNHHKSBPPXD3KSNJWTTFY kommi

    goes to show the fact that we live in a fascist country. It’s a police state. Mussolini [he should know] defined fascism as ” the marriage of corporations to the state”. Our government is owned by corporations and the sovereignty of the people over their government, corporations and their police- force is lost. Completely lost. Founding fathers would be pissing in their graves if they knew…..

  • Adaugeo

    VoxMagi, I usually agree with your comments and am relieved to see such an intelligent person caring about others and not just trying to become rich. Here, I do agree we need to be careful of communication channels, this being one of the least secure. http://www.darkgovernment.com/news/a-glimpse-into-nsa-monitoring-capabilities/ But if we hide, they will win the war of attrition because they have the power and resources. We have to fight to get them back using whatever we have left because we’re losing ground all the time.

    We can’t use BBM, Facebook, MySpace, text messaging or any other form of electronic communication. Time to get the old printing presses, top loading copiers, etc. out to fight this revolution. Face to face in back halls, just like the during the founding of this country. Jefferson had it right.

  • Adaugeo

    VoxMagi, I usually agree with your comments and am relieved to see such an intelligent person caring about others and not just trying to become rich. Here, I do agree we need to be careful of communication channels, this being one of the least secure. http://www.darkgovernment.com/news/a-glimpse-into-nsa-monitoring-capabilities/ But if we hide, they will win the war of attrition because they have the power and resources. We have to fight to get them back using whatever we have left because we’re losing ground all the time.

    We can’t use BBM, Facebook, MySpace, text messaging or any other form of electronic communication. Time to get the old printing presses, top loading copiers, etc. out to fight this revolution. Face to face in back halls, just like the during the founding of this country. Jefferson had it right.

  • Anonymous

    Jews? Listen up ya mamzer, I’m sorry they messed up your Matzah order, but what can we poor schleps do? You got the chutzpah to demand your gelt back you kvetching goyle?

  • Anonymous

    NO — These laws NEED to be challenged and they NEED to be overturned. The PA supreme court recently ruled this perfectly legal in Pennsylvania; A circuit court also recently ruled filming police legal in a case from Boston:
    http://news.brevardtimes.com/2011/08/federal-court-rules-videotaping-police.html

    If this is challenged, it WILL be overturned. But if we go around telling everyone it’s illegal and they either shouldn’t do it or should hide it, these laws will remain on the books and will continue to be abused.

    The ACLU has taken on his case, and they’ve beaten NUMEROUS similar laws in the past. They know what they’re doing. No way in hell he’s serving that time.

  • Anonymous
  • Anonymous

    That’s a circuit court ruling. If you live in the area covered by that circuit, you’re good. Otherwise, it’s not much help. It’d be like using a PA supreme court ruling as a defense…in Florida. Of course, it can’t hurt, and it certainly would show them first that you are willing to fight it, and secondly that there’s a pretty good chance they’d lose.

  • Tuna Ghost

    I’m not disagreeing with the statement “our government is owned by corporations”, but the people never had sovereignty over corporations.  They are not beholden to anyone in any sense, unlike the police or the government.  They are, legally, concerned with only one thing.  If a CEO ever tried to do anything except maximize short term profits, he would be fired and sued.  Read up on the case between Ford and the Dodge brothers.  It set a huge precedent in corporate law.  

  • http://voxmagi-necessarywords.blogspot.com/ VoxMagi

    Agreed…I’ve advocated the use of old tech before…precisely because in an era of increasing monitoring of social and modern mediums…old routes of communication are newly made safer than modern ones.

    They want you phone tapped and your comp registered and restricted…find old communication routes that aren’t so easily breached. 

  • Tuna Ghost

    ….wow.  Didn’t expect you to drop the n-bomb, Andrew.  Unless that’s just someone putting the frame job on the other Andrew we all know and…tolerate.

  • Tuna Ghost

    Got an email address for us?  I’m sort of on the other side of the world

  • http://voxmagi-necessarywords.blogspot.com/ VoxMagi

    I agree that some of us must stand and deliver…but we also need a wider path that allows more involvement for people who aren’t willing to take a tazer in the back or a boot to the face. The brave make up a tiny minority…and frankly we need numbers…and we can only get that by finding innovative ways to let people participate in ways that don’t put them at great personal risk. I’m willing to be monitored on a street corner…with my sign in hand…and probably have been measured and photographed  more that once because of anti-war and pro legalization rallies…but many who lack courage and conviction are empathetic to the cause…they just aren’t willing to put it on the line and risk death or torture…and I accept that…its just a goddam shame that in this country you have to be emotionally prepared for violence and legal harassment just to have politics that don’t meet the state sanctioned norm.  

  • Ronniedobbs

    I’ve lived in NC all my life and most blue collar jobs here ARE minimum wage with no benefits….

  • http://www.ContraControl.com/ Zenc

    State’s Attorney: Thomas R. Wiseman
    Email: twiseman@crawfordcountycentral.com
     

  • Anonymous

    When done openly and it conforms to other laws. In some states secretly taping someone (anyone, not just cops) is illegal – you have to openly tell them or otherwise make it obvious that you are indeed filming them for it to be legal. And the ruling of a court in one district does not apply to laws in other districts. And in some places there may actually be laws specifically addressing how and when you can tape public officers discharging their public duties (again, not just police but all public servants). There’s good reason for there to be certain limits on certain types of recording, including avoiding entrapment (the cops film you but only the part where they get you to say something that’s incriminating out of context) and making sure that undercover officers are not outed on youtube.

    So it’s best to find out what the wiretapping and video recording laws are where you are at, because it may actually be illegal where you are. Don’t rely on the results of a case in some other state!

  • Anonymous

    depends on the laws in Illinois and the county and city where the filming took place. In some places filming without permission isn’t illegal and in some filming openly will still be illegal.

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_ZMJEXZ2HDL77JXOUY5MCC4YYBU .

    They don’t want to be recorded because they love to commit crimes and not have to answer for it.

    They rather see whole families carried out of homes in body
    bags and kiss a child molester while patting them on their
    backs for doing a good job destroying children’s lives and
    their families.

    Another reason they’re jerks is because of this…

    http://www.adversity.net/policefire.htm

  • JOE

    un american thought we had rights !!! our constitution what

  • CosmicAmazing

    No, all our presidents as of late have been signing polices that fuck us over. Obama is no different. I hated Bush as well.. Never voted for either of the two idiots.. 

  • Pingback: 1st Circuit Appeals Court Upholds Right To Record Police In Public | Disinformation

  • Pissedoff

    If this guy goes to jail, people need to burn the courthouse, the judge and the police chief’s homes to the ground. The police in this situation are human scum. FUCK THEM!

  • Emilyhochman

    So…Rodney King case is no precedent of officers needing to be exposed and sentenced, sometimes by covert means?  I mean, can you imagine if the person who taped that had walked up to them and asked their approval?!  Would have had the crap beaten out of him, his camera confiscated and spent the night in jail.

  • Me

    WHERE IS YOUR RAGE, WORLD!?!?!? THIS IS HORRIFYING! END THIS!

  • http://twitter.com/safehealthcare RUBY FRANKLIN

    He told them that he was going to record so if any disagreed they should have made it known not kept silent which means they agreed.  Why allow to record then later arrest?  Abuse of power is what this law is because discriminates against tax pay citizens, men of land, or civilians.  So basically there is no protection for people.