Taping police in abusive situations has led, in many places to the person with the cell phone being charged. A friend of mine is awaiting trial after taping a cop shoving a kid with a skateboard against a fence while threatening him. The kid had done nothing and left but the cop took my friend's cell phone and charged him with "interference."
If you use teh google and try "arrested for taping police" it is easy to see how wide spread this is. My friend sent me this article today
US Court of Appeals rules people have right to video cops in public
http://www.masslive.com/...
It was a unanimous ruling that filming police in a public place is protected by the 1st and 4th Amendments. Excessive force by police is commonplace, probably most directed at minority youth but folks under 20 in general. They do not like getting caught and will use all levels of intimidation. Anyway, I thought this was a good thing.
There is a link to the ruling in the article
tap yer toes
http://www.youtube.com/...
tags civil rights police