Scene Reporter Captures Own Arrest on Video, Refutes State Troopers' Charges.
First the Tennessean published this from Tennessee Highway Patrol spokeswoman:
"Tennessee Highway Patrol spokeswoman Dalya Qualls just sent this email regarding last night's arrest of Nashville Scene reporter Jonathan Meador, who was covering the protests:
"We plan to review all of the materials documenting the arrest or Mr. Meador and depending on the review will respond appropriately. It is not our intent to interfere with a journalist doing his or her job."
She attached the citation issued Meador. The trooper wrote that Meador smelled of alcohol and "appeared to be intoxicated and unable to care for himself."
Luckily, the reporter that was arrested was able to record his own arrest and now posted the video. Follow me to the priceless video
http://www.youtube.com/...
And now from the Nashville Scene itself comes this reporting:
"The Tennessee state trooper who arrested Scene reporter Jonathan Meador last night on Legislative Plaza during the THP's second late-night crackdown on the Occupy Nashville protests was kind enough to slip the small video flip-cam Meador was carrying back into his pocket. Thanks to him, Meador was able to produce this unedited video of his own arrest — or to be more accurate, the audio, since with troopers slamming Meador to the ground from behind and rendering him helpless, the image isn't so hot.
No matter. The sound speaks volumes.
What you will hear, very clearly, is a trooper telling another officer to book Meador for resisting arrest. You will also hear, very clearly, audio evidence of Meador's contention: that he was simply doing his job as a reporter and tried to get off the plaza to comply with the law — but the troopers wouldn't let him off that easy.
What you will not hear, in any form or fashion, is the slightest mention of public intoxication — the specious charge against Meador the THP has broadcast to the world. If that charge was made up later to discredit Meador — or even more appallingly, to divert attention from what a Metro Night Court judge last night told officers was a blatantly unconstitutional overstepping of government and police authority — nobody who cares about their First Amendment freedoms should sleep in Tennessee tonight."
Nashville received quite a bit of attention in the last few days and the latest development with ACLU ( as published in this diary) and the Scene reporter will keep Occupy Nashville movement in the minds of the Nashville's citizens.
You can participate in a new poll on the Tennessean website regarding Occupy Nashville here
Live stream of Occupy Nashville is here right now.