ABC News reporter arrested for taking video of Democrats and donors in Denver.

Stylerod · 08-28-2008, 12:04 PM

WTF?

ABC News: ABC Reporter Arrested in Denver Taking Pictures of Senators, Big Donors

DENVER -- Police in Denver arrested an ABC News producer today as he and a camera crew were attempting to take pictures on a public sidewalk of Democratic senators and VIP donors leaving a private meeting at the Brown Palace Hotel.

Police in Denver arrested an ABC News producer today as he was attempting to take pictures of Democratic senators and VIP donors leaving a private meeting at the Brown Palace Hotel.

Police on the scene refused to tell ABC lawyers the charges against the producer, Asa Eslocker, who works with the ABC News investigative unit.

There is video as well. I don't get it.

kinggovernor · 08-28-2008, 12:19 PM

now you are impeding traffic

you pushed me there man

7960 · 08-28-2008, 12:29 PM

my favorite part was the cop with the cigar while he was arresting the guy.

there are so many things wrong with what happened it's disgusting.

kinggovernor · 08-28-2008, 12:33 PM

Originally Posted by 7960

my favorite part was the cop with the cigar while he was arresting the guy.

there are so many things wrong with what happened it's disgusting.

just like the left wing protesters, I always take videos with a grain of salt there has to be a reason he was arrested, it was for more than standing on the sidewalk.

Stylerod · 08-28-2008, 12:45 PM

Originally Posted by kinggovernor

just like the left wing protesters, I always take videos with a grain of salt there has to be a reason he was arrested, it was for more than standing on the sidewalk.

I would think so, they didn't arrest the people with the camera's.

kinggovernor · 08-28-2008, 01:02 PM

Originally Posted by Stylerod

I would think so, they didn't arrest the people with the camera's.

exactly, he probably was trespassing but maybe it was worth it for the pics

JaJae · 08-28-2008, 01:11 PM

There definitely was some parts edited out so we didn't see the whole thing. However, I've read other articles saying the police were called by the high-end hotel he was standing outside of. I guess they didn't want reporters standing by their entrance shoving cameras in everyone's faces. Either way, they shouldn't have shoved him or grabbed him by the throat.

kinggovernor · 08-28-2008, 01:27 PM

Originally Posted by JaJae

There definitely was some parts edited out so we didn't see the whole thing. However, I've read other articles saying the police were called by the high-end hotel he was standing outside of. I guess they didn't want reporters standing by their entrance shoving cameras in everyone's faces. Either way, they shouldn't have shoved him or grabbed him by the throat.

I will say if you are going to arrest him then arrest him, don't just push him out into moving traffic

7960 · 08-28-2008, 01:37 PM

Originally Posted by kinggovernor

I will say if you are going to arrest him then arrest him, don't just push him out into moving traffic

here it is.

the police turned this from an issue with the reporter and the hotel to an issue with the police and the reporter. if they really wanted to get him for something then they would have just arrested him and dragged him away. but since they played with him first, *KNOWING* it would all be on camera, then they probably had no real expectation that they were doing anything but getting rid of him and there'd never be charges.

kinggovernor · 08-28-2008, 01:46 PM

Originally Posted by 7960

here it is.

the police turned this from an issue with the reporter and the hotel to an issue with the police and the reporter. if they really wanted to get him for something then they would have just arrested him and dragged him away. but since they played with him first, *KNOWING* it would all be on camera, then they probably had no real expectation that they were doing anything but getting rid of him and there'd never be charges.

From the story:
A police official later told lawyers for ABC News that Eslocker is being charged with trespass, interference, and failure to follow a lawful order. He also said the arrest followed a signed complaint from the Brown Palace Hotel.

so there was a complaint from the hotel but most of the charges result from his encounter with the police

7960 · 08-28-2008, 02:35 PM

Originally Posted by kinggovernor

From the story:
A police official later told lawyers for ABC News that Eslocker is being charged with trespass, interference, and failure to follow a lawful order. He also said the arrest followed a signed complaint from the Brown Palace Hotel.

so there was a complaint from the hotel but most of the charges result from his encounter with the police

that's how it works.

even though he was on city property the hotel filed a complaint to have him removed. the police show up and even though it was city property and they didn't have the right to make him move they said "move" and he didn't. so now he's violating an officer's (unlawful) orders and they can arrest him.

basically he's fucked...if he leaves then they get their way. if he stays then he's ignoring their orders and they arrest him and they get their way. as long as he really didn't trespass (and he might have, I don't know) then I hope some cop loses his job....hopefully the one with the cigar.

6SpeedTA95 · 08-28-2008, 10:16 PM

Wow, at least from what i can tell this was a complete out of bounds move by the denver PD...first amendment mean anything up there? Shit I know its close to boulder, but when did boulder's bullshit spill over into denver proper?

Donkey® · 08-28-2008, 11:06 PM

Sounds familiar...let me think...oh yes...China.

JaJae · 08-28-2008, 11:45 PM

Originally Posted by Donkey®

Sounds familiar...let me think...oh yes...China.

There are some very distinct differences here. First and foremost, in this country we have protections and that reporter will get a fair trial. And he has the ability to sue the police department if there was any wrongdoing. Secondly, all dissenting opinion isn't banned in this country. And possibly most importantly, the same people who oppose this type of behavior in China tend to oppose it when it happens here.

Donkey® · 08-29-2008, 02:16 AM

Originally Posted by JaJae

There are some very distinct differences here. First and foremost, in this country we have protections and that reporter will get a fair trial. And he has the ability to sue the police department if there was any wrongdoing. Secondly, all dissenting opinion isn't banned in this country. And possibly most importantly, the same people who oppose this type of behavior in China tend to oppose it when it happens here.

You posted a video blasting China for an incident that seems very similar. Reporter trying to report news was arrested...which you said can't and doesn't happen in the US. How's that working out for you?

thewise1 · 08-29-2008, 03:14 AM

Just read opencarry.org, the colorado forum - this sort of thing is the norm.

kombayn · 08-29-2008, 06:11 AM

Originally Posted by Donkey®

You posted a video blasting China for an incident that seems very similar. Reporter trying to report news was arrested...which you said can't and doesn't happen in the US. How's that working out for you?

You have him there. The cops should be held accountable with proper action, it doesn't happen all the time. A lot of Americans know the system has corruption in it while a lot of other Americans think the system works perfectly. It's perception.

JaJae · 08-29-2008, 07:35 AM

Originally Posted by Donkey®

You posted a video blasting China for an incident that seems very similar. Reporter trying to report news was arrested...which you said can't and doesn't happen in the US. How's that working out for you?

He wasn't arrested because of what he was reporting on. He was arrested for disrupting a business and ignoring police orders. There is a big difference. Obviously America isn't perfect, but our laws don't require police to arrest people for reporting certain issues or speaking out politically. And this man will have the ability to protest his arrest, the police department and the government.

So while mistakes can happen in the US and our system isn't perfect it's a hell of a lot different than China.

7960 · 08-29-2008, 08:01 AM

Originally Posted by kombayn

You have him there. The cops should be held accountable with proper action,

we don't know what he did BEFORE the cops got there. was he in the lobby and the hotel staff asked him to leave and he didn't? was he blocking the entrance to the hotel with his cameras and staff?

after my first post kinggovernor said "I always take videos with a grain of salt there has to be a reason he was arrested, it was for more than standing on the sidewalk." and he's got a point. We don't know the whole story. *IF* he was just on the sidewalk and the cops did that then they should lose their jobs. But if there was an original valid complaint then the reporter isn't so innocent in this.

JaJae · 08-29-2008, 10:04 AM

Originally Posted by 7960

we don't know what he did BEFORE the cops got there. was he in the lobby and the hotel staff asked him to leave and he didn't? was he blocking the entrance to the hotel with his cameras and staff?

after my first p