Peddler charged with illegally taping cops during his own arrest

CHICAGO (STNG) -- A Rogers Park neighborhood man was charged with felony eavesdropping after allegedly taping conversations  -- including  the voices of officers who arrested him -- without permission while selling art for a $1 Wednesday afternoon in the Loop.

Christopher Drew, 59, of the 1500 block of West Jonquil Terrace, was charged with felony eavesdropping, according to police. He was also cited with two city charges for not having a peddler’s license and peddling in a prohibited area.

Drew was arrested at 103 N. State St. at 1:15 p.m. after officers saw him wearing a red poncho with a sign on the back and front that  said, “Art for Sale, $1,’’ according to a police report.

Officers informed him that the area was restricted for peddlers and asked him to stop peddling, as he also did not have a license to sell the art. Drew was taken into custody after telling officers he would not stop, according to the report.  

Inside several pockets of the poncho officers found his items for sale and an Olympus digital voice recorder which was recording at the time of the incident without the consent of the responding officers, according to the report.

Belmont Area detectives are investigating.