DeKalb, IL brothers indicted on eavesdropping charges - Taped traffic stop by cops
SYCAMORE, IL – Two DeKalb brothers were indicted Monday on felony and misdemeanor eavesdropping charges for reportedly recording police officers on a November traffic stop.
DeKalb police said Fanon Parteet, 23, of the 1300 block of West Lincoln Highway, and Adrian Parteet, 20, of the 700 block of Lucinda Avenue, were passengers in a car that was stopped at McDonald’s, 545 E. Lincoln Highway, on Nov. 24. Police had stopped the car on suspicion that the driver had been drinking.
While a DeKalb police officer was talking to the driver of the car, a second officer advised him that Fanon Parteet appeared to be recording him using a camera-equipped cell phone. When asked, Fanon Parteet said he was only recording people inside the car, police said. But when he played back the video, the arresting officer said he saw and heard himself on the recording.
***In Illinois, it is illegal to make a recording of an oral conversation without the consent of all parties. There are exceptions, including uniformed police officers using recording devices like squad car-mounted cameras in the course of their duties.***
While Fanon Parteet was being arrested on the eavesdropping charge and placed in a squad car, Adrian Parteet was using another camera-equipped cell phone to record the arrest, according to police.
At the time, the second police officer on the scene was standing near Adrian Parteet’s window talking to him, and when he asked if he was being recorded, was told Adrian Parteet was only taking still photos. On playback, the officer’s voice is audible as he talks to Adrian Parteet, police said.
After Monday’s hearing, Circuit Judge Robbin Stuckert found probable cause to charge each of the brothers with Class 4 felony eavesdropping, punishable by up to three years in prison, and Class A misdemeanor eavesdropping, punishable by less than one year in jail
SYCAMORE, IL – Two DeKalb brothers were indicted Monday on felony and misdemeanor eavesdropping charges for reportedly recording police officers on a November traffic stop.
DeKalb police said Fanon Parteet, 23, of the 1300 block of West Lincoln Highway, and Adrian Parteet, 20, of the 700 block of Lucinda Avenue, were passengers in a car that was stopped at McDonald’s, 545 E. Lincoln Highway, on Nov. 24. Police had stopped the car on suspicion that the driver had been drinking.
While a DeKalb police officer was talking to the driver of the car, a second officer advised him that Fanon Parteet appeared to be recording him using a camera-equipped cell phone. When asked, Fanon Parteet said he was only recording people inside the car, police said. But when he played back the video, the arresting officer said he saw and heard himself on the recording.
***In Illinois, it is illegal to make a recording of an oral conversation without the consent of all parties. There are exceptions, including uniformed police officers using recording devices like squad car-mounted cameras in the course of their duties.***
While Fanon Parteet was being arrested on the eavesdropping charge and placed in a squad car, Adrian Parteet was using another camera-equipped cell phone to record the arrest, according to police.
At the time, the second police officer on the scene was standing near Adrian Parteet’s window talking to him, and when he asked if he was being recorded, was told Adrian Parteet was only taking still photos. On playback, the officer’s voice is audible as he talks to Adrian Parteet, police said.
After Monday’s hearing, Circuit Judge Robbin Stuckert found probable cause to charge each of the brothers with Class 4 felony eavesdropping, punishable by up to three years in prison, and Class A misdemeanor eavesdropping, punishable by less than one year in jail