|
|
| |
| Wed, Aug. 20, 2008 |  |
 |
|
||
| |
Citation against reporter dismissed Saturday, Dec 15, 2007 By John Lyon Arkansas News Bureau LITTLE ROCK - Prosecutors asked a judge Friday to dismiss a misdemeanor citation issued to a newspaper journalist after he began taking pictures at the scene of a fire in Maumelle. State Trooper Tom Weindruch, 33, arrested Bill Lawson, 59, a reporter-photographer for Stephens Media, and detained him for about 30 minutes Monday night before citing him for obstructing governmental operations. Lawson filed a formal complaint with state police Thursday over the incident, accusing Weindruch of inappropriate and hostile behavior. Sherwood District Judge Butch Hale dismissed the citation against Lawson Friday afternoon. "After we reviewed the incident report and the videotape (from a camera in Weindruch's vehicle) and looked at the relevant statute, we didn't feel as though the charge was appropriate, given what we read and saw," Pulaski County Prosecutor Larry Jegley said. Meanwhile, state police officials said Friday Weindruch was removed from enforcement status late Thursday and assigned to temporary office duties while the agency continues to investigate the incident. Weindruch does not have a listed telephone number and has not spoken to the Arkansas News Bureau, Stephens Media's Little Rock bureau, about the incident. State Police Director Col. Winford Phillips said Friday he had not read news reports of the incident because he wants to remain as unbiased as possible when reviewing the results of the internal investigation, which Phillips said he has asked to be expedited. "I want to be proactive," he said. Phillips said a report on the internal investigation could be ready sometime next week, although that was not definite. After he reviews the report, he will make a decision, which the State Police Commission will then vote on, Phillips said. Lawson said he was pleased the charge was dismissed but felt it was still a sad day. "It's a sad day for the Arkansas State Police, because they've always had such high standards," he said. "I've always had so many friends in the state police, and so many strong ties and associations with them." Lawson said it was "painful" for him to file a complaint over the incident, but he felt he had to do so. Weindruch "arrested me for a criminal offense for trying to exercise my constitutional right, and I felt like I needed to stand up for all the photojournalists in Arkansas, and reporters, who have a job to do," Lawson said. Lawson said he was walking toward the scene of a chimney fire on High Timber Drive when Weindruch ordered him to move back, then arrested him and placed him in handcuffs after he took a photo of Weindruch from about 10 feet away. Weindruch will do office work at state police headquarters in Little Rock while the investigation continues, officials said. He has been ordered not to wear his uniform or make any attempt to act in the capacity of a law enforcement officer. ------- Arkansas News Bureau reporter Jason Wiest contributed to this report. |
