U.S. Press Freedom Tracker

Incident Database

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70 incidents recorded

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Incident
Incident Details
Category Details

Photojournalist arrested, equipment seized while covering protest

Incident Details

Updated On
May 8, 2023
Date of Incident
June 1, 2020
Location
Atlanta, Georgia
Case number
1:21-cv-04629
Targets
Sharif Hassan (Freelance)
Case Status
Settled
Type of case
Civil

Arrest/Criminal Charge

Arrest Status →
Arrested and released
Arresting Authority →
Atlanta Police Department
Charges →
Detention Date →
Release Date →
Unnecessary use of force? →
No
Equipment Seized →
Status of Seized Equipment →
Returned in part
Search Warrant Obtained →
No
Actor who seized equipment →
Law enforcement

Reporter arrested, phone confiscated while covering NC homeless camp eviction

Incident Details

Updated On
May 3, 2023
Date of Incident
December 25, 2021
Location
Asheville, North Carolina
Targets
Matilda Bliss (The Asheville Blade)

Arrest/Criminal Charge

Arrest Status →
Arrested and released
Arresting Authority →
Asheville Police Department
Charges →
  • Trespassing
    • Dec. 26, 2021: Charges pending
    • Apr. 19, 2023: Convicted
    • Apr. 19, 2023: Pending appeal
Release Date →
Unnecessary use of force? →
No
Equipment Seized →
Status of Seized Equipment →
Returned in full
Search Warrant Obtained →
Yes
Actor who seized equipment →
Law enforcement

Subpoena/Legal Order

Journalist Alexei Wood arrested at Inauguration protest

Incident Details

Updated On
April 25, 2023
Date of Incident
January 20, 2017
Location
Washington, District of Columbia
Case number
1:20-cv-00130
Targets
Alexei Wood (Independent)
Case Status
Settled
Type of case
Civil

Arrest/Criminal Charge

Arrest Status →
Arrested and released
Arresting Authority →
Metropolitan Police Department
Charges →
Unnecessary use of force? →
No
Equipment Seized →
Status of Seized Equipment →
Returned in full
Search Warrant Obtained →
No
Actor who seized equipment →
Law enforcement

Devices illegally seized in investigation of reporter’s murder, Review-Journal argues

Incident Details

Updated On
January 25, 2023
Date of Incident
September 2022
Location
Las Vegas, Nevada
Case number
A-22-859361-C
Targets
Jeff German (Las Vegas Review-Journal)
Case Status
Ongoing
Type of case
Civil
Equipment Seized →
Status of Seized Equipment →
In custody
Search Warrant Obtained →
Yes
Actor who seized equipment →
Law enforcement

Subpoena/Legal Order

Legal Orders →
Legal Order Target →
Journalist
Legal Order Venue →
State

Journalist Tonita Cervantes arrested at Standing Rock

Incident Details

Updated On
December 19, 2022
Date of Incident
February 22, 2017
Location
Morton County, North Dakota
Case number
1:22-cv-00211
Targets
Tonita Cervantes
Case Status
Ongoing
Type of case
Civil

Arrest/Criminal Charge

Arrest Status →
Arrested and released
Arresting Authority →
Morton County Sheriff's Department
Charges →
Detention Date →
Release Date →
Unnecessary use of force? →
Yes

Assault

Assailant →
Law enforcement
Was the journalist targeted? →
Yes
Equipment Seized →
Status of Seized Equipment →
Returned in full
Search Warrant Obtained →
No
Actor who seized equipment →
Law enforcement

Student photojournalist arrested, equipment seized during LA protest

Incident Details

Updated On
September 18, 2022
Date of Incident
September 8, 2020
Location
Los Angeles, California
Case number
2:21-cv-08378
Targets
Pablo Unzueta (Daily 49er)
Case Status
Settled
Type of case
Civil

Arrest/Criminal Charge

Arrest Status →
Arrested and released
Arresting Authority →
Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department
Charges →
Release Date →
Unnecessary use of force? →
Yes

Assault

Assailant →
Law enforcement
Was the journalist targeted? →
Yes
Equipment Seized →
Status of Seized Equipment →
Returned in part
Search Warrant Obtained →
No
Actor who seized equipment →
Law enforcement

ACLU files for ‘false imprisonment’ against Washington, D.C., police after photojournalist arrested, equipment seized

Incident Details

Updated On
August 29, 2022
Date of Incident
August 31, 2020
Location
Washington, District of Columbia
Case number
1:21-cv-02158
Targets
Oyoma Asinor (Independent)
Case Status
Dismissed
Type of case
Civil

Arrest/Criminal Charge

Arrest Status →
Arrested and released
Arresting Authority →
Metropolitan Police Department
Charges →
  • Rioting
    • Aug. 31, 2020: Charges pending
    • Aug. 31, 2020: Charges dropped
Detention Date →
Unnecessary use of force? →
Yes

Assault

Assailant →
Law enforcement
Was the journalist targeted? →
Yes
Equipment Seized →
Status of Seized Equipment →
Returned in full
Search Warrant Obtained →
No
Actor who seized equipment →
Law enforcement

Freelance journalist suing after being arrested and placed in isolation while covering Portland protest

Incident Details

Updated On
July 29, 2022
Date of Incident
June 30, 2020
Location
Portland, Oregon
Case number
3:20-cv-01106
Targets
Cory Elia (Freelance)
Case Status
Settled
Type of case
Civil

Arrest/Criminal Charge

Arrest Status →
Arrested and released
Arresting Authority →
Portland Police Bureau
Charges →
Release Date →
Unnecessary use of force? →
Yes

Assault

Assailant →
Law enforcement
Was the journalist targeted? →
Yes
Equipment Seized →
Status of Seized Equipment →
Returned in full
Search Warrant Obtained →
No
Actor who seized equipment →
Law enforcement
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