In Ferguson, Washington Post reporter Wesley Lowery gives account of his arrest [via Facebook]
“The officers led us outside to a police van. Inside, there was a large man sitting on the floor between the two benches. He began screaming: ‘I can’t breathe! Call a paramedic! Call a paramedic!’
“Ryan and I asked the officers if they intended to help the man. They said he was fine. The screaming went on for the 10 to 15 minutes we stood outside the van.
“‘I’m going to die!’ he screamed. ‘I’m going to die! I can’t breathe! I’m going to die!’
“Eventually a police car arrived. A woman — with a collar identifying her as a member of the clergy — sat in the back. Ryan and I crammed in next to her, and we took the three-minute ride to the Ferguson Police Department. The woman sang hymns throughout the ride.
“During this time, we asked the officers for badge numbers. We asked to speak to a supervising officer. We asked why we were being detained. We were told: trespassing in a McDonald’s.
“‘I hope you’re happy with yourself,’ one officer told me. And I responded: ‘This story’s going to get out there. It’s going to be on the front page of The Washington Post tomorrow.’
“And he said, ‘Yeah, well, you’re going to be in my jail cell tonight.’
“Once at the station, we were processed, our pockets emptied. No mug shots. They removed our restraints and put us in a holding cell. Ryan was able to get ahold of his dad. I called my mom, but I couldn’t get through. I couldn’t remember any phone numbers.
“We were in there for what felt like 10 or 15 minutes. Then the processing officer came in.
“‘Who’s media?’ he asked.
“We said we were. And the officer said we were both free to go. We asked to speak to a commanding officer. We asked to see an arrest report. No report, the officer told us, and no, they wouldn’t provide any names.”
In Ferguson, Washington Post reporter Wesley Lowery gives account of his arrest
FERGUSON, Mo. — For the past week in Ferguson, reporters have been using the McDonald’s a few blocks from the scene of Michael Brown’s shooting as a staging area. Demonstrations have blown up each nig…
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- —Rad Geek