Reporters Arrested for Taping Open Meeting on Taxis

One nabbed on disorderly conduct, the other for filming the arrest

By Matt Cantor, Newser Staff

Posted Jun 24, 2011 7:31 AM CDT | Updated Jun 24, 2011 8:04 AM CDT

(Newser) – Two journalists were arrested this week in Washington, apparently for recording a public meeting—on city taxis. Pete Tucker, who reports taxi industry news, landed charges for disorderly conduct, unlawful entering, and refusing to stash his camera when asked. Then Reason TV journalist Jim Epstein was arrested after taking video of Tucker’s arrest. Epstein had also come to report on the meeting, but figured Tucker’s arrest was newsworthy, notes Mediaite via the Washington Post.

It wasn’t until Epstein had finished filming that he was stopped. A police officer told a meeting attendee that the officer could “get his phone” and told Epstein to “stay put.” When he tried to leave, he was surrounded. He released his video of the event upon his release from jail. No comment yet from law enforcement—but thus far, the story echoes news of the arrest of a woman for filming police from her yard.

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A screen grab from the video. (YouTube)

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Jim Epstein's video of the first arrest. (YouTube)

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Reporters Arrested for Taping Open Meeting on Taxis