By Associated Press - Wednesday, March 12, 2014

BALTIMORE (AP) - The ACLU and Baltimore police have agreed to settle a long-running lawsuit over the seizure of a cellphone from a man who used it to record officers making an arrest.

Christopher Sharp used his phone to record officers arresting a female acquaintance. Police seized the phone, and Sharp alleged that officers deleted two dozen personal videos, including many of his young son.

Baltimore’s spending board approved the settlement Wednesday, which includes a $25,000 payment to Sharp and $225,000 to cover costs and legal fees.

Under the agreement, Baltimore police will adopt a new policy that bans officers from stopping people from recording or photographing police actions.

The case led the Department of Justice to issue guidance affirming that people have a constitutional right to record officers performing their official duties.

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