(CBS NEWS) A cell phone video is driving a federal lawsuit in Oregon where a Portland woman is suing the city. Carrie Medina says police took her phone after she used it to record and broadcast the arrest of a man two years ago, reports CBS News correspondent Ben Tracy.
The cell phone has become a powerful tool in the hands of citizens across the country. From recording Eric Garner's chokehold death at the hands of a New York police officer to a 51-year-old woman beaten by a California Highway Patrol officer, cell phone users are becoming digital watchdogs for alleged police misconduct.
In February of 2013, Medina was riding a Portland bus but got off when she noticed a young man being arrested by two police officers.