Woman Records Her Own Arrest; Faces Wiretapping Charges

12 May, 2014 by Cassy Fiano

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Evidently, wiretapping is perfectly acceptable — as long as it’s the government doing it to us. The other way around? Well, that can land a person in jail, as one woman unfortunately found out.

Springfield Police Capt. Harry Kastrinakis said 24-year-old Karen Dziewit of Chicopee was drinking in front of 140 Chestnut Street shortly before 2 a.m. Sunday when police were called to assist a security officer at that address. Police said Dziewit was screaming and yelling and disturbing the tenants of the buildings, and she refused to stop her tirade when police asked her to.

She was arrested. But, before she was taken into custody, she apparently started the voice recorder in her smart phone and put it in her purse.

She was taken to police headquarters for booking and as officers inventoried the contents of her purse, they found the phone actively recording the entire process.

Dziewit was charged with unlawful wiretapping, disorderly conduct and an open container violation. She will be arraigned in Springfield District Court on Monday.

It’s hard to fathom how, exactly, recording an arrest is the same thing as wiretapping. Plus, citizens are recorded on dashcam videos by police all the time — why is it such a problem when the tables are turned?

Also see: Why Does God Allow Bad Things To Happen To Good People?