Incident Database

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General

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Took place after

Took place before

City

State

Targeted any of these journalists

Targeted Institutions

Has any of these tags

Case number

Legal case statuses

Type of case

Arrest/Criminal Charge

Arrest status

Status of charges

Charges

Unnecessary use of force?

Yes
No

Assault

Assailant

Was journalist targeted?

Unknown
Yes
No

Border Stop

Border point

Stopped previously?

Yes
No

Target Nationality

US Citizenship Status

Denied entry?

Yes
No

Did authorities ask intrusive questions about journalist's work?

Unknown
Yes
No

Did authorities ask for device access?

Unknown
Yes
No

Were devices searched or seized?

Unknown
Yes
No

Did authorities ask for social media username?

Unknown
Yes
No

Did authorities ask for social media password?

Unknown
Yes
No

Denial of Access

Government agency or public official involved

Equipment Damage

Equipment Broken

Equipment Search or Seizure

Actor

Status of seized equipment

Equipment Seized

Search warrant obtained?

Yes
No

Leak Case

Targets whose communications were obtained in leak investigation

Charged under espionage act?

Yes
No

Prior Restraint

Status of prior restraint

Subpoena/Legal Order

Subpoena type

Subpoena status

If subject refused to cooperate, were they held in contempt?

Unknown
Yes
No

Detention status

Third party in possession of communications

Third party business

Legal order type

7 incidents recorded

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Incident

Incident Details

Category Details

Editor’s laptop, cellphone seized following publication of courtroom recording

Incident Details

Date of Incident: October 28, 2022
Location: Waverly, Ohio
Targets: Derek Myers (Scioto Valley Guardian)

Equipment Seized →: Computer, 1

Cellphone, 1
Status of Seized Equipment →: In custody
Search Warrant Obtained →: Yes
Actor who seized equipment →: Law enforcement

Legal Order Type →: Warrant

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
Targets: Jeff German (Las Vegas Review-Journal)

Equipment Seized →: Cellphone, 1

Computer, 4

Storage device, 1
Status of Seized Equipment →: In custody
Search Warrant Obtained →: Yes
Actor who seized equipment →: Law enforcement

Legal Order Type →: Warrant

Independent photographer stopped for secondary screening, devices seized

Incident Details

Date of Incident: June 28, 2019
Location: Detroit, Michigan
Targets: Tim Stegmaier

Border Point →: Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport
Stopped at border? →: Yes
US Citizenship Status of Target →: U.S. citizen
Denied Entry? →: No
Stopped Previously? →: No
Asked for device access? →: Yes
Asked to display social media? →: Unknown
Asked for social media passwords? →: Unknown
Asked intrusive questions about work? →: Yes
Were devices searched or seized? →: Yes

Equipment Seized →: Camera, 1

Computer, 1

Cellphone, 1
Status of Seized Equipment →: Returned in full
Search Warrant Obtained →: No
Actor who seized equipment →: Law enforcement

San Francisco police use search warrant to raid home, office of independent journalist

Incident Details

Updated On: May 26, 2020
Date of Incident: May 10, 2019
Location: San Francisco, California
Targets: Bryan Carmody (North Bay News)

Equipment Seized →: Camera, 2

Cellphone, 12

Computer, 11

Storage device, 11

Work product, 3
Status of Seized Equipment →: Returned in full
Search Warrant Obtained →: Yes
Actor who seized equipment →: Law enforcement

Arrest Status →: Detained and released without being processed
Arresting Authority →: San Francisco Police Department
Unnecessary use of force? →: No

Legal Order Type →: Warrant

Minneapolis journalist arrested while covering protest

Incident Details

Date of Incident: June 17, 2017
Location: Minneapolis, Minnesota
Targets: Susan Du (City Pages)

Arrest Status →: Arrested and released
Arresting Authority →: Minnesota State Patrol
Charges →: Obstruction: being a public nuisance

Jun. 17, 2017: Charges pending

Jul. 28, 2017: Charges dropped

Rioting: unlawful assembly

Jun. 17, 2017: Charges pending

Jul. 28, 2017: Charges dropped
Unnecessary use of force? →: No

Equipment Seized →: Work product, 1

Cellphone, 1

Camera, 1

Computer, 1
Status of Seized Equipment →: Returned in full
Search Warrant Obtained →: No
Actor who seized equipment →: Law enforcement

BBC journalist questioned by US border agents, devices searched

Incident Details

Date of Incident: May 18, 2017
Location: Chicago, Illinois
Targets: Ali Hamedani (BBC News)

Border Point →: O'Hare International Airport
Stopped at border? →: Yes
Target Nationality →: Iran

United Kingdom
US Citizenship Status of Target →: U.S. non-resident
Denied Entry? →: No
Stopped Previously? →: No
Asked for device access? →: Yes
Asked to display social media? →: Yes
Asked for social media passwords? →: No
Asked intrusive questions about work? →: Unknown
Were devices searched or seized? →: Yes

Equipment Seized →: Cellphone, 1

Computer, 1
Status of Seized Equipment →: Returned in full
Search Warrant Obtained →: No
Actor who seized equipment →: Law enforcement

Reporter Jack Smith IV charged with obstruction at Standing Rock

Incident Details

Updated On: February 1, 2018
Date of Incident: February 22, 2017
Location: Morton County, North Dakota
Targets: Jack Smith IV (Mic)

Arrest Status →: Arrested and released
Arresting Authority →: Morton County Sheriff's Department
Charges →: Obstruction: physical obstruction of a government function

Feb. 22, 2017: Charges pending

Dec. 7, 2017: Charges dropped
Unnecessary use of force? →: No

Equipment Seized →: Computer, 1

Camera, 1

External battery, 1
Status of Seized Equipment →: Returned in full
Search Warrant Obtained →: No
Actor who seized equipment →: Law enforcement

Equipment Broken →: Camera, 1