Arrested Photographer Says Cops Stole His Film

Marc Moran was heading to a party at the InterContinental Hotel on Michigan Avenue when he saw protests happening down the street

A photographer who just wanted to snap a photo of Wednesday night's Occupy protest ended up with handcuffs snapped on him and his film swiped from his camera.

Marc Moran was heading to a party at the InterContinental Hotel on Michigan Avenue when he noticed the protests going on down the street. 

"It looked like a photo opportunity," he said."So I went to go snap a picture and next thing I know I was being apprehended in cuffs."

Moran thought he looked like the type to be a casual observer to the action.  It was an idea he tried to communicate to the officers apprehending him

"I told them once they started putting me in cuffs," he said. "'I'm not part of this. I'm sorry. I did not mean to make you feel uncomfortable.'"

Nevertheless, Moran said he spent 12 hours in jail and had his camera confiscated. When police returned the camera to him Thursday, he said the film had been removed. Officials said they have no record of the film being seized.

Moran said he just needs to be careful the next time he sees a Kodak moment unfolding before him.

"I wish maybe I could have approached it more cautiously so I would have actually had the photo," he said.

A dozen protesters were charged in connection with the Mag Mile scuffle, including one who was charged with a felony. Five officers were injured. One officer said he was hit in the head with a frying pan.

The protesters, mainly from the group Occupy Chicago, were marching in solidarity with protesters in Canada over tuition hikes.

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