Phoenix Blogger's Computer Seized: 'This is Nazi Germany'

MIAMI - Jeff Pataky, a Phoenix-based blogger, said that police seized his computer and property because he was "speaking out against cops."

"They took everything," said Pataky, 41, a Phoenix software consultant. "They even took my personal photos and iTunes music. Since when does a citizen's home get raided for something like this?"

According to the search warrant issued on Mar. 9 by Maricopa County Judge Gary E. Donahue, there was probable cause to support that Pataky allegedly committed the following public offenses:

- "computer tampering, a class 5 felony"

- "theft, controls property of another knowing or having reason to know that the property was stolen, a class 1 misdemeanor."

Items to be searched for and seized at Pataky's residence, "located in a gated private community," included "any and all electronic data processing and storage devices, computers," among other items, according to the warrant.

Pataki said that the warrant was issued in retaliation by the police for posts he made on his blog, badphoenixcops.blogspot.com.

"Their intent was to stop me," said Pataky, who said he had a right to blog under the First Amendment. "They even blocked my Web site from city computers because city employees were reading it."

Pataky said that he is knowledgeable about his city government, attends council meetings and is "very outspoken."

"I have 50 to 100 cops who provide me with information," said Pataky, who then posts the information on his blog.

"This is censorship," said Pataki. "This is Nazi Germany."

The Phoenix Police Department did not return calls seeking comment.

"The public needs to pay attention to this," said Pataky.

"If it can happen to me, it can happen to anyone."