EL PASO, Texas — An ABC-7 crew covering a crash on I-10 on Monday unwillingly became part of the story.
Motorists stuck in traffic witnessed veteran journalist Darren Hunt and photojournalist Ric Dupont being handcuffed and detained.
Just after 1:30 p.m., the two arrived to report on a flipped semi-truck on I-10 West near the Sunland Park exit. They parked on the left shoulder of the eastbound lanes of I-10 as witnesses ran toward victims to offer help.
A pregnant woman sat on the side of the freeway, sobbing, and, according to a witness, several men in military fatigues helped pull the driver of the semi-truck out of the cab.
As emergency crews tended to the driver, police Sgt. Raul Ramirez told the ABC-7 crew from across the barrier to leave. Several people and half a dozen cars were also stopped on the eastbound shoulder.
Darren continued to try to get information from the men in fatigues when the situation began to escalate. The sergeant jumped the barrier and told Darren to get in the truck (an ABC-7 news unit) and leave, then held Darren with his hands behind his back to the side of the truck belonging to a witness that was parked on the shoulder.
OBEY! Resistance is futile!
Well, the “news” doesn’t have any right to cause an unsafe highway condition nor to interfere with PO’s in their public duties. If the general public would not be allowed to pull up to the scene of an accident, no reason for the press to be there either.
So==strictly follow the law and provide the press with a whole lot more access to where they are currently not allowed, and if that results in them covering less gore, that would be ok too.
yeah I’m gonna call it now and say half the comments below will be “Those damn Nazi cops” and the other half will be “Damn liberal pinko news media outta listen to the LAW!!!”
It is illegal to stop like that on a freeway. Why? Because it can cause accidents. Duh.
#2 I guess that makes you part of the apathetic, majority segment of the population.
I’m curious as to who the men in fatigues at the scene were, and why the police were so wary to have them recorded on the scene.
It makes you wonder what actions were edited from the beginning of the tape that set this cop off? Or course the media would never hide the full story, would they?
this was reported on fox 11 here L.A. today. Dude has a history issues and has been placed on desk duty several times before this incident. I’m gonna bet he doesn’t get fired, but is reassigned to desk duty permanently. Then he quits on his own.
If you look at the video there were many cars in front and in back of the news truck.
Why didn’t the police office arrest all of them if it was such a hazard to traffic?
Looks like a cop having a bad day, going overboard on this situation. He gives all cops a bad name, but some of them deserve it too.
The real story is this…
– Military being deployed in America (just to help out).
– News crew stumbles upon accident (troops).
– Insane reaction (due to military presence).
– Posse Comitatus not yet technically breached (just lending a hand)
#9 LDA
Just great, you had to post the truth, here we go now.
You know, I understand that stopping on the highway may be a hazard. I understand that walking home from work during a protest might make you look suspicious.
What I don’t understand is why these cops freak out and use excessive force ALL THE TIME.
Yeah, the job is stressful, but the cops should be special people who can act calmly when they’re stressed out. Isn’t that like, a requirement?
# 11 brm said, “What I don’t understand is why these cops freak out and use excessive force ALL THE TIME.”
It is used too frequently. But, in the case where someone is endangering innocent lives at THAT moment, I don’t have a problem.
There are many good men and women on the police forces across this country. Unfortunately, there are a few with some serious psychological issues. Perhaps misfits when they were in school that now have a new found power.
Cops are thugs … film at 11.
good god you conspiracy nuts don’t miss a chance. El Paso has a very large military base and if you had bothered to watch the story you would have seen the soldiers were passing by and help rescue the truck driver ( they were heroes not black ops) but your hatred of those who protect your rights to be idiots knows no depth
#5 Li “…who the Men in fatigues were…”
Ft. Bliss is in El Paso. It is an Army embarkation point for Iraq.
When a cop wrongfully detains someone under color of authority it should be a felony.
If I grabbed somebody under circumstances which required an apology from me later I would be a kidnapper.
If a store detains you as you leave because they think you ahve stolen from them, AND THEY TURN OUT TO BE WRONG, they have committed the tort of kidnapping and are liable for damages. They detain suspected shoplifters at their own risk.
But if a cop detains you illegally, using (abusing, actually) the gun and authority he has been issued by the state, he is subject to administrative action at worst. This is wrong. The gun and the authority are a grave responsibility, and every cop who does this sort of thing, ALONG WITH EVERY COP WHO STANDS BY AND LETS IT HAPPEN, is crapping all over that responsibility, that duty. He’s also making a hypocrite out of himself if he has ever shed a tear over tragedies that occur in the actual line of that duty.
The penalty for this kind of thing should be greater for police, not less.
Well, IMHO, the press truck was safely pulled over on the shoulder of the highway just trying to cover a news incident. Gee, that would be THEIR JOB! They wern’t blocking traffic or interfering with the police or fire department. The police officer is an ass. I’m a pretty conservative person, but it looks pretty clear to me who was in the wrong in this case.
I think the El Paso PD needs to get that BOZO cop off of the force before he costs them a million dollar judgement.
Don
looks like he went out of his way to hassle some reporter while there were probably more important things like saving lives that needed attention.
I agree with #17. Police officers and elected officials should be held to a higher standard. That more than balances out some of the perks that come with the privilege of public service.
Damn Nazi News Media better follow what those liberal pinko Cops says is the LAW!
It may be illegal to park where the reporter was parked, but the question is why was the reporter arrested if he was attempting to leave as directed? Police apologists, I’m listening.
#23 I think he was arrested for breaking the law. Maybe he moved to slowly… Either way, people who intentionally endanger the lives of innocent people should be arrested.
#24, Jackboot-licker;
“Either way, people who intentionally endanger the lives of innocent people should be arrested.”
You’re right. You make a compelling argument for arresting the cop. After all, he has a gun, a badge, the “authority”, and the ability to endanger an innocent person’s life. He’s clearly apeshit power-crazy. Seems to fit your definition to me.
Clearly the officer, enraged by ABC’s cancellation of his favorite cop-drama show “Life on Mars” and favorite comedy “According to Jim”, took it out on the reporter and cameraman.
This would not have happened to an NBC or CBS reporter. Let this be a lesson to you two!
#24. Idiot Blurted Out – “I think he was arrested for breaking the law. Maybe he moved to slowly… Either way, people who intentionally endanger the lives of innocent people should be arrested.”
Chief of police calls his behavior disturbing. If he thinks it is disturbing, then everything you have said is just your typical bullshit. Fucking troll.
#27 LOL. I love posters who have to resort to name calling. Does mommy know you are posting on DU?
Now, now, Paddy-O, let’s not bring mommies into this.
Paddy-O….. you are a tool. How’s that for name calling? “intentionally endanger the lives of innocent people”, are you fucking kidding me? I sincerely hope that soon you will have some real dealings with the so-called conservators of the peace in this country, maybe then you will have a legitimate view of situations such as this. I am so glad that cameras in the hands of regular people are becoming so prevalent these days. Maybe in 50 years or so we might have a police force worthy of some respect.
WOW, the Reporter is causing a traffic jam by parking on freeway and because he’s a reporter some think endangering others is perfectly okay.
So does that mean a reporter gets a free pass if he’s driving drunk on the job?