Story highlights Beatriz Paez was walking Sunday when she saw police activity

She says marshals told her to stop recording but she refused

Marshals Service said it is looking into incident after man took her phone and smashed it

(CNN) A California woman who was recording police activity said she was terrified when a deputy U.S. marshal walked toward her, grabbed her cell phone out of her hands and smashed it with his foot.

The incident was recorded by another woman with a smartphone camera across the street.

Beatriz Paez filed a complaint Wednesday with police in South Gate, just south of Los Angeles. However, the police don't have authority over marshals. Paez is also considering a lawsuit.

Paez said she was out walking Sunday when she noticed what looked like an arrest several houses up the street. She stood on the sidewalk, recording with her phone.

The woman said marshals asked her to stop recording but she told them she had a right to do so.

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