U.S. Press Freedom Tracker

Incident Database

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85 incidents recorded

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Incident
Incident Details
Category Details

Atlanta photojournalist files lawsuit following arrest, device search

Incident Details

Date of incident
July 29, 2022
Location
Atlanta, Georgia
Case number
1:24-cv-02921
Targets
Ben Hendren (The Atlanta Journal-Constitution)
Case status
Ongoing
Type of case
Civil

Arrest/Criminal Charge

Arrest status →
Arrested and released
Arresting authority →
Georgia State University Police Department
Detention date →
Unnecessary use of force? →
No

Assault

Assailant →
Law enforcement
Was the journalist targeted? →
Yes
Equipment searched or seized →
Status of equipment →
Returned in full
Search warrant obtained →
No

Radio reporter’s phone seized by North Dakota police, later returned

Incident Details

Date of incident
January 10, 2022
Location
Williston, North Dakota
Targets
Tom Simon (KXWI-FM)
Equipment searched or seized →
Status of equipment →
Returned in full
Search warrant obtained →
No

Subpoena/Legal Order

Legal orders →
Legal order target →
Journalist
Legal order venue →
State

Reporter arrested, phone confiscated while covering NC homeless camp eviction

Incident Details

Updated on
June 4, 2025
Date of incident
December 25, 2021
Location
Asheville, North Carolina
Case number
1:24-cv-00307
Targets
Matilda Bliss (The Asheville Blade)
Case status
Ongoing
Type of case
Civil

Arrest/Criminal Charge

Arrest status →
Arrested and released
Arresting authority →
Asheville Police Department
Charges →
  • Trespassing
    • Dec. 26, 2021: Charges pending
    • April 19, 2023: Convicted
    • April 19, 2023: Pending appeal
    • June 16, 2023: Convicted
    • March 22, 2024: Pending appeal
    • June 4, 2025: Convicted
Release date →
Unnecessary use of force? →
No
Equipment searched or seized →
Status of equipment →
Returned in full
Search warrant obtained →
Yes

Subpoena/Legal Order

Legal orders →
Legal order target →
Journalist
Legal order venue →
State

Photojournalist arrested, equipment seized while documenting homeless encampment

Incident Details

Updated on
July 23, 2024
Date of incident
November 30, 2021
Location
Sausalito, California
Case number
3:22-cv-01029
Targets
Jeremy Portje (Freelance)
Case status
Settled
Type of case
Civil

Arrest/Criminal Charge

Arrest status →
Arrested and released
Arresting authority →
Sausalito Police Department
Charges →
Detention date →
Release date →
Unnecessary use of force? →
No

Assault

Assailant →
Law enforcement
Was the journalist targeted? →
Yes
Equipment searched or seized →
Status of equipment →
Returned in full
Search warrant obtained →
Yes

Subpoena/Legal Order

Legal orders →
Legal order target →
Journalist
Legal order venue →
State

Border Report correspondent detained photographing outside Texas Air Force base

Incident Details

Date of incident
September 19, 2021
Location
Del Rio, Texas
Targets
Sandra Sanchez (Border Report)

Arrest/Criminal Charge

Arrest status →
Detained and released without being processed
Arresting authority →
Laughlin Air Force Base military police
Unnecessary use of force? →
No
Equipment searched or seized →
Status of equipment →
Returned in full
Search warrant obtained →
No

Equipment Damage

Equipment damaged →
Actor →
Law enforcement

Social media journalist arrested, injured while covering Wisconsin protest

Incident Details

Updated on
January 1, 2021
Date of incident
October 8, 2020
Location
Wauwatosa, Wisconsin
Targets
Brendan Gutenschwager (Freelance)

Arrest/Criminal Charge

Arrest status →
Arrested and released
Arresting authority →
Wauwatosa Police Department
Charges →
Release date →
Unnecessary use of force? →
Yes

Assault

Assailant →
Law enforcement
Was the journalist targeted? →
No
Equipment searched or seized →
Status of equipment →
Returned in full
Search warrant obtained →
No

Freelance journalist arrested while covering Wauwatosa, Wisconsin protests

Incident Details

Updated on
October 27, 2021
Date of incident
October 8, 2020
Location
Wauwatosa, Wisconsin
Targets
Blair Nelson (Freelance)

Arrest/Criminal Charge

Arrest status →
Arrested and released
Arresting authority →
Wauwatosa Police Department
Charges →
Detention date →
Release date →
Unnecessary use of force? →
No
Equipment searched or seized →
Status of equipment →
Returned in full
Search warrant obtained →
No
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