Why Are D.C. Police Arresting Journalists at a Public Meeting?
Reason’s Jim Epstein was arrested after a meeting of the D.C. Taxi Commission yesterday, following his filming of the arrest of journalist, Pete Tucker, at the same meeting. Tucker’s crime? Snapping a still photo of the proceedings on his camera phone. Here’s Epstein’s account of what happened next:
A few minutes later, as I was attempting to leave the building, I overheard the female officer who had arrested Tucker promise a woman, who I presumed to be an employee of the Taxi Commission, that she would confiscate my phone. Reason intern Kyle Blaine, overheard her say, "Do you want his phone? I can get his phone."
(The woman who was given assurances by the officer that she could have my phone can be seen at the end of the video telling me, "You do not have permission to record this!")
As I tried to leave, I was told by the same officer to "stay put." I told her I was leaving and attempted to exit the building. I was then surrounded by officers, and told to remain still or I would