ABC producer Asa Eslocker arrested at DNC convention

[Rogue 9]

Video of the arrest.

ABC News

ABC Reporter's Attorneys Want All Charges Dropped
Civil Rights Groups Calling for Renewed Protection of First Amendment Rights
From the Blotter

Aug. 28, 2008—

Lawyers for an ABC reporter and civil rights groups are demanding that Denver police drop all charges against a reporter who was arrested yesterday while trying to shoot video on a public sidewalk outside the Brown Palace Hotel in Denver.

Asa Eslocker and a camera crew were attempting to film and talk to Democratic senators and VIP donors leaving a private meeting at the hotel as part of a nightly news series on the corporate lobbyists and wealthy donors at the Democratic National Convention. Police arrested Eslocker and charged him with trespassing, failure to follow a lawful order, and interference with a police officer.

Eslocker's attorneys said Thursday that their client is "innocent of all three crimes."

"He and his news crew were standing on public sidewalks covering an event of public significance and performing a press function protected by the First Amendment," said a statement issued today by Eslocker's attorneys, Daniel Recht and Steven Zansberg.

Video of the arrest shows a cigar-smoking Denver police sergeant, accompanied by a team of five other officers, first put his hands on Eslocker's neck, then twisting his arm behind him to put on handcuffs.

"Frankly, we are outraged at the conduct of the individual officers. Their interactions with Mr. Eslocker are captured on tape." (click here to read the full statement by Eslocker's attorneys)

Civil rights groups also reacted today saying Eslocker's arrest is the latest in a series of incidents at the DNC that exemplify an assault on the First Amendment.

"Arresting a reporter for simply doing his job is both unconstitutional and un-American," said Anthony Romero, Executive Director of the American Civil Liberties Union. "That free speech is curtailed during the Democratic National Convention underscores the need for continued protection of civil liberties, regardless of the party in power."

Reporters Without Borders echoed calls for the charges to be dropped.

"The use of unnecessary force and the arrest of a journalist who was reporting an important political story is deeply troubling and unacceptable," the group said.

Attempts by ABC News to reach a press contact for the Denver police department were not successful.

Denver police Lt. Ron Saunier told the Associated Press that "the Denver Police Department is committed to looking into each and every allegation of unnecessary force," Saunier said.

Saunier said authorities have tried to accommodate the news media this week. "One instance with the media shouldn't paint the entire event," he said.

[Rogue 9]

Fucking A, this is outrageous. Who the fuck thought a political convention was an excuse to ignore basic press rights? That cop doesn't deserve his badge.

[Death from the Sea]

depending on what the reason was for the police telling him to move on from that spot will really determine if they were justified or not. If they had a valid reason and the press was not cooperating then they were well within the limits. The one thing I did see that looked bad was the sergeant putting his hand on the guys neck, but it looked like the sergeant may have been pushing on the pressure point on the bottom of the jaw for compliance, which the guy was passively resisting.

I see alot of comments on other forums saying that the "bald headed fat Keystone cop" needs to lose his badge or go to jail for his "police brutality" when the video shows he didn't even end up using any real force of the guy.

[Rogue 9]

He pushed him into the fucking street, and then blamed him for impeding traffic. This isn't a problem?

[Big Phil]

At first glance the reporter reminds me of Andrew Meyer. Obviously we don't know how the confrontation began or what it was about, but he was told to move (whether that was legal or not I don't know), refused, and then made a big scene about it. I can't find any articles that explain, in detail, why he was asked to leave and then arrested. Most are pretty vague that he was "trespassing," whatever the fuck that means on a public sidewalk.

Here's a more basic question: what connection does this have with the Democratic convention? I see lots of (Republicans) screeching about free speech and freedom of the press in comment sections of articles, blaming Obama and the Democratic Party for trying to hide something illegal they're doing, but I don't really see the connection, other than that Democrats were the subject of his piece. Did Barack Obama sic the police on this guy?

[Azazal]

Here's a more basic question: what connection does this have with the Democratic convention? I see lots of (Republicans) screeching about free speech and freedom of the press in comment sections of articles, blaming Obama and the Democratic Party for trying to hide something illegal they're doing, but I don't really see the connection, other than that Democrats were the subject of his piece. Did Barack Obama sic the police on this guy?

From the OP article, paragraph 2

Asa Eslocker and a camera crew were attempting to film and talk to Democratic senators and VIP donors leaving a private meeting at the hotel as part of a nightly news series on the corporate lobbyists and wealthy donors at the Democratic National Convention. Police arrested Eslocker and charged him with trespassing, failure to follow a lawful order, and interference with a police officer.

[Death from the Sea]

He pushed him into the fucking street, and then blamed him for impeding traffic. This isn't a problem?

because the guy was not moving on as told to do so and kept trying to tell the officer to "hold on" to delay his move. So no matter how he got there, he was standing in the street trying to talk on his cell phone.

I don't know if the interfering with a police officer charge will stick, but the trespassing could be if the reporter was set up blocking an entrance to a hotel or eating establishment. Also if the reporter and camera was blocking the sidewalk for his segment, then that could have been why he was told to move on and his disregard is failure to follow a lawful order of a police officer (that would also be true if the reporter was trespassing).

Until we find out what the beginning of that confrontation was we can't really make accurate judgments on it.

FYI is a police officer tells or even asks you to move, do so with a quickness. Don't finish what you were doing or call your boss to let them know and complain, just move. It will save you a world of problems.

[Big Phil]

From the OP article, paragraph 2

Asa Eslocker and a camera crew were attempting to film and talk to Democratic senators and VIP donors leaving a private meeting at the hotel as part of a nightly news series on the corporate lobbyists and wealthy donors at the Democratic National Convention. Police arrested Eslocker and charged him with trespassing, failure to follow a lawful order, and interference with a police officer.

I read that too; it doesn't really say what he was doing to cause the police to arrest him. Was he simply standing on the sidewalk filming? Was he getting in people's faces and asking rude questions? Was he trying to get into the hotel to film?

And in any case, it still doesn't explain how this is Obama and the Democratic party's fault.

[General Zod]

I read that too; it doesn't really say what he was doing to cause the police to arrest him. Was he simply standing on the sidewalk filming? Was he getting in people's faces and asking rude questions? Was he trying to get into the hotel to film?

It's possible his crew was obstructing the sidewalk and/or entrance. But it's hard to say from the article either way. (Since I can't view the video at work).

[Big Phil]

I read that too; it doesn't really say what he was doing to cause the police to arrest him. Was he simply standing on the sidewalk filming? Was he getting in people's faces and asking rude questions? Was he trying to get into the hotel to film?

It's possible his crew was obstructing the sidewalk and/or entrance. But it's hard to say from the article either way. (Since I can't view the video at work).

The video starts with him on the phone and a cop/security guard telling him to move. We don't see what happened before the video starts; all we see is the cop telling him to move, pushing him into the street, and then arresting him.