U.S. Press Freedom Tracker

Incident Database

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43 incidents recorded

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Incident
Incident Details
Category Details

Independent photographer stopped for secondary screening, devices seized

Incident Details

Date of Incident
June 28, 2019
Location
Detroit, Michigan
Targets
Tim Stegmaier (Independent)

Border Stop

Border Point →
Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport
Target Nationality →
US Citizenship Status of Target →
U.S. citizen
Denied Entry? →
No
Stopped Previously? →
No
Asked for device access? →
Yes
Asked intrusive questions about work? →
Yes
Equipment Seized →
Status of Seized Equipment →
Returned in full
Search Warrant Obtained →
No

Police seize drone as photojournalist documents mass graves in New York

Incident Details

Updated On
August 18, 2020
Date of Incident
April 14, 2020
Location
New York, New York
Targets
George Steinmetz (Freelance)

Arrest/Criminal Charge

Arrest Status →
Arrested and released
Arresting Authority →
New York City Police Department
Charges →
  • Avigation
    • Apr. 14, 2020: Charges pending
    • Aug. 1, 2020: Charges dropped
Unnecessary use of force? →
No
Equipment Seized →
Status of Seized Equipment →
Returned in full
Search Warrant Obtained →
No

Photojournalist arrested covering Dallas protests, camera equipment seized

Incident Details

Updated On
May 23, 2022
Date of Incident
May 30, 2020
Location
Dallas, Texas
Case number
3:22-cv-01132
Targets
Christopher Rusanowsky (ZUMA Press)
Case Status
Ongoing
Type of case
Civil

Arrest/Criminal Charge

Arrest Status →
Arrested and released
Arresting Authority →
Dallas Police Department
Charges →
Release Date →
Unnecessary use of force? →
No
Equipment Seized →
Status of Seized Equipment →
Returned in full
Search Warrant Obtained →
No

Freelance photojournalist hit with projectiles, arrested while documenting protests in Worcester, Mass.

Incident Details

Updated On
March 19, 2021
Date of Incident
June 1, 2020
Location
Worcester, Massachusetts
Targets
Richard Cummings (Freelance)

Arrest/Criminal Charge

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

Assault

Assailant →
Law enforcement
Was the journalist targeted? →
Unknown
Equipment Seized →
Status of Seized Equipment →
Returned in full
Search Warrant Obtained →
No

Equipment Damage

Equipment Broken →
Actor →
Law enforcement

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

Photojournalist arrested, equipment seized outside Trump’s Tulsa rally

Incident Details

Updated On
January 8, 2021
Date of Incident
June 20, 2020
Location
Tulsa, Oklahoma
Targets
Alan Pogue (Freelance)

Arrest/Criminal Charge

Arrest Status →
Arrested and released
Arresting Authority →
Tulsa Police Department
Charges →
Unnecessary use of force? →
No
Equipment Seized →
Status of Seized Equipment →
Returned in full
Search Warrant Obtained →
No

Portland journalist arrested, his equipment damaged and seized

Incident Details

Date of Incident
July 1, 2020
Location
Portland, Oregon
Case number
3:20-cv-01035
Targets
Justin Yau (Freelance)
Case Status
Ongoing
Type of case
Class Action

Arrest/Criminal Charge

Arrest Status →
Arrested and released
Arresting Authority →
Portland Police Bureau
Charges →
Unnecessary use of force? →
No

Assault

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

Equipment Damage

Equipment Broken →
Actor →
Law enforcement
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