Incident Database

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Freelance journalist suing city and state after being arrested, 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: Lesley McLam (Freelance)
Case status: Settled
Type of case: Civil

Arrest status →: Arrested and released
Arresting authority →: Portland Police Bureau
Release date →: July 1, 2020
Unnecessary use of force? →: Yes

Assailant →: Law enforcement
Was the journalist targeted? →: Yes

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 status →: Arrested and released
Arresting authority →: Portland Police Bureau
Charges →: Obstruction: resisting arrest

July 1, 2020: Charges pending

July 8, 2020: Charges dropped

Obstruction: interfering with a peace officer

July 1, 2020: Charges pending

July 8, 2020: Charges dropped

Obstruction: interfering with a peace officer

July 1, 2020: Charges pending

July 8, 2020: Charges dropped

Assault: assault of a police officer

July 1, 2020: Charges pending

July 8, 2020: Charges dropped

Obstruction: disorderly conduct

July 1, 2020: Charges pending

July 8, 2020: Charges dropped

Assault: assault of a police officer

July 1, 2020: Charges pending

July 8, 2020: Charges dropped
Release date →: July 1, 2020
Unnecessary use of force? →: Yes

Assailant →: Law enforcement
Was the journalist targeted? →: Yes

Equipment searched or seized →: Cellphone, 1

Press identification, 1
Status of equipment →: Returned in full
Search warrant obtained →: No

Judge quashes subpoena for freelance journalist’s confidential communications, reporting materials

Incident Details

Date of incident: June 30, 2020
Location: Arlington, Virginia
Targets: Zachary Petrizzo (Daily Dot)

Legal orders →: subpoena for communications or work product

June 30, 2020: Pending

July 28, 2020: Objected to

Nov. 2, 2020: Quashed
Legal order target →: Journalist
Legal order venue →: State

Reporter repeatedly shoved by police officers while covering protests in Portland

Incident Details

Updated on: May 6, 2022
Date of incident: June 30, 2020
Location: Portland, Oregon
Case number: 20CV23349
Targets: Robert Evans (Bellingcat & iHeart Radio)
Case status: Settled
Type of case: Class Action

Assailant →: Law enforcement
Was the journalist targeted? →: Unknown

Video journalist shoved, pepper-sprayed during 2020 Portland protest

Incident Details

Updated on: January 29, 2025
Date of incident: June 27, 2020
Location: Portland, Oregon
Case number: 3:23-cv-01870
Targets: Mason Lake (Independent)
Case status: Settled
Type of case: Civil

Assailant →: Law enforcement
Was the journalist targeted? →: Yes

Philadelphia Inquirer reporter arrested during ‘defund the police’ protest

Incident Details

Date of incident: June 23, 2020
Location: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Targets: Samantha Melamed (The Philadelphia Inquirer)

Arrest status →: Detained and released without being processed
Arresting authority →: Philadelphia Police Department
Unnecessary use of force? →: No

Journalist assaulted while covering DC protests

Incident Details

Date of incident: June 22, 2020
Location: Washington, District of Columbia
Targets: Shelby Talcott (Daily Caller)

Assailant →: Private individual
Was the journalist targeted? →: No

Journalist briefly detained while covering DC protests

Incident Details

Date of incident: June 22, 2020
Location: Washington, District of Columbia
Targets: Shelby Talcott (Daily Caller)

Arrest status →: Detained and released without being processed
Arresting authority →: Metropolitan Police Department
Unnecessary use of force? →: No

VOA journalist hit with a baton by unidentified man at DC protest

Incident Details

Date of incident: June 22, 2020
Location: Washington, District of Columbia
Targets: Jason Patinkin (Voice of America)

Assailant →: Unknown
Was the journalist targeted? →: Unknown

VOA journalist shot in hand with pepper ball while filming DC protest

Incident Details

Date of incident: June 22, 2020
Location: Washington, District of Columbia
Targets: Ayen Bior (Voice of America)

Assailant →: Law enforcement
Was the journalist targeted? →: Unknown

Student journalist pepper-sprayed, thrown to ground by law enforcement in Richmond

Incident Details

Date of incident: June 21, 2020
Location: Richmond, Virginia
Targets: Andrew Ringle (The [Virginia Commonwealth University] Commonwealth Times)

Assailant →: Law enforcement
Was the journalist targeted? →: Yes

Photojournalist struck with crowd-control munitions during Compton demonstration

Incident Details

Date of incident: June 21, 2020
Location: Compton, California
Targets: Ringo Chiu (Freelance)

Assailant →: Law enforcement
Was the journalist targeted? →: Yes

Journalist struck with pepper balls during Compton protest

Incident Details

Date of incident: June 21, 2020
Location: Compton, California
Targets: Kandist Mallett (Freelance)

Assailant →: Law enforcement
Was the journalist targeted? →: Unknown

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 status →: Arrested and released
Arresting authority →: Tulsa Police Department
Charges →: Obstruction: obstructing or interfering with an officer

June 20, 2020: Charges pending

Aug. 7, 2020: Charges dropped
Unnecessary use of force? →: No

Equipment searched or seized →: Cellphone, 1

Camera, 2

Camera lens, 3

Equipment bag, 1

Protective equipment, 1

Storage device, 2
Status of equipment →: Returned in full
Search warrant obtained →: No

Atlanta journalist threatened with pistol, beaten during Rayshard Brooks protests

Incident Details

Date of incident: June 20, 2020
Location: Atlanta, Georgia
Targets: George Chidi (Freelance)

Assailant →: Private individual
Was the journalist targeted? →: Yes

Portland photojournalist struck with pepper balls while covering Portland protest

Incident Details

Updated on: March 5, 2025
Date of incident: June 19, 2020
Location: Portland, Oregon
Case number: 3:20-cv-01035
Targets: John Rudoff (Independent)
Case status: Settled
Type of case: Civil

Assailant →: Law enforcement
Was the journalist targeted? →: Yes

Seattle Police Department subpoenas five news outlets for protest photos, videos

Incident Details

Updated on: September 21, 2020
Date of incident: June 18, 2020
Location: Seattle, Washington
Targets: KCPQ, KING-TV, KIRO-TV, KOMO-TV, The Seattle Times

Legal orders →: subpoena for communications or work product

June 18, 2020: Pending

Sept. 21, 2020: Dropped
Legal order target →: Institution
Legal order venue →: State