Story:
We were 4 bikers on our way back from Flight 93 Memorial in Stoystown, PA. My friend and I get pulled over for crossing on double yellow.After waiting for citations for 10-15 minutes the other 2 bikers (my brother Ryan and other friend) walk up to see whats going on and just to wait with us. They stand off to side as instructed by the officer outside the vehicle (Officer Smith) After another 5 minutes or so of casual conversation among ourselves and Smith, he asks for ID from Ryan, who responds, "I am required to show you ID?" Smith responds, "I am a police officer." Ryan says, "I understand that but whats the reason." He responds by saying, "You came on my scene". Smith asks for his name which Ryan gives. At this point the other officer (Williams) gets out of the squad car and asks whats going on. Smith says that Ryan isn't showing ID and immediately the Williams says, If you don't show us ID right now we can arrest you, tow your bike, and then you have to pay bail. This is when my brother says, "someone get this on video". So I pull out my phone and the following occurs.
After the Video: They seize my phone and play the video, which has audio obviously. I am then arrested by Williams for audio taping them without their consent (Wiretapping Law), which according to the ACLU does not apply to officers doing their regular duties in public. So I'm arrested as well. Eventually my friend calls his police officer friend who talks with Williams. Then we are both released as long as we give them the video and delete it. So they continue to seize my phone to make us follow them back to the station to transfer the file. After not being able to transfer it due to software issues the Smith takes a video of my video with his iPhone. I am then told to delete the video so I stealthy slide to the next video, which Williams created while seizing my phone (he had no idea how to use a smartphone) and deleted that one. Now I'm sharing this ridiculous video of a cop on a power trip arresting innocent civilians after they visited a 9/11 memorial.
Court Case:
In the end my brother was found not guilty, because the judge had a feeling it was all about refusing to show ID. The judge did however scold my brother, telling him "you shouldn't have been there". During the court case, my brother was not allowed to present the video because the judge confirmed that the Wiretapping Law made the audio recording illegal and not admissible evidence in court. Also the officer, Williams was exaggerating details and making it seem as if my brother was disorderly and a threat to the officers safety. Williams said when they told the two approaching bikers to stand off to the side my brother kept approaching (lied under oath). Smith even proved this point when he gave his testimony and said when asked to stand off to the side of the road they did. Williams also said my brother caused a unsafe road condition by making them stop traffic as he was being arrested, which was completely out of his control because...he was already under arrest.
The onsite arrest was removed from his record as he was found not guilty.