Police: Eastlake man arrested after trying to record 'The Avengers' on his cellphone at theater

WILLOUGHBY, Ohio - A man from Eastlake was arrested after police said he tried to record “The Avengers” movie in the theater with his cellphone.

The incident happened Friday afternoon at the Regal Cinema on Euclid Avenue in Willoughby.

According to report from Willoughby police, a manager in the audio visual room saw a man holding what appeared to be a recording device, and there was a “distinct light” coming from the device’s display. She called the police.

Once officers arrived at the theater, they escorted 35-year-old Jonathan Pazicni into the lobby and questioned him about the device.

The police report said Pazicni told the officers he was “testing” his new phone and had recorded the trailers for upcoming movies. He then showed police one of the recordings he had on his phone.

Pazicni was then arrested and taken to the Willoughby Police Department for processing.

Police said Pazicni allowed officers to search his cellphone, and among the recordings was the movie “The Avengers” in progress.

NewsChannel 5 talked to Sergeant Jim Schultz of the Willoughby Police Department Monday night, who said the intent was pretty clear.

"Our detectives were able to get consent to download the contents of the cellphone," Schultz said. "Once it was downloaded, we saw that he had video taped 6 of the movie trailers and the first 10 minutes of the 'Avengers' movie."

Pazicni was charged with motion picture piracy, a first-degree misdemeanor.  If convicted, he faces a maximum fine of $1,000 and six months in jail.