Adams County agreed to pay $80,000 to settle a First Amendment lawsuit after Barry Zatkalik was arrested while filming Deputy Walter Berlinski during a February 2024 traffic stop. Bodycam and dashcam footage showed fellow officers telling Berlinski he had no probable cause, and Berlinski later described his case as weak. The settlement resolves claims that Zatkalik's protected recording was met with a wrongful arrest and threats of force.
Adams County to Pay $80,000 After Man Wrongfully Arrested for Filming Deputy
Adams County agreed to pay $80,000 to settle a First Amendment lawsuit after Barry Zatkalik was arrested while filming Deputy Walter Berlinski during a February 2024 traffic stop. Bodycam and dashcam footage showed fellow officers telling Berlinski he had no probable cause, and Berlinski later described his case as weak. The settlement resolves claims that Zatkalik's protected recording was met with a wrongful arrest and threats of force.
02:10 PM, 11/21/2025Society
Adams County, Colorado, has agreed to pay $80,000 to resolve a First Amendment lawsuit filed by Barry Zatkalik after he was arrested while filming a sheriff's deputy during a February 2024 traffic stop.
Zatkalik, a former reserve officer with the Denver Police Department, pulled over after observing Deputy Walter Berlinski and recording because he believed the deputy was speeding without using lights or sirens. When Berlinski noticed the recording, he demanded Zatkalik's identification. Zatkalik refused and asked to speak with a supervisor while continuing to film — an activity that is generally protected when done from a lawful distance in public.
According to body-worn camera and dashcam footage, Berlinski handcuffed and arrested Zatkalik on an obstruction charge and threatened to deploy a Taser. The video later shows other officers telling Berlinski he lacked probable cause to make the arrest, and Berlinski acknowledged his case against Zatkalik was weak.
The $80,000 settlement resolves Zatkalik's claims that his protected act of recording a public official was met with a wrongful arrest and threats of force. The agreement ends the litigation without resolving any broader policy questions; settlements typically do not constitute an admission of liability.
Why it matters: The case highlights continuing tensions over citizens' right to record law enforcement in public and the role of body-worn and dashboard cameras in documenting contested encounters.