NYPD arrests photographer for snapping a photo on a public sidewalk

June 28, 2007 @ 2:08AM

NYPD arrests photographer for snapping a photo on a public sidewalk

By Carlos Miller -...

Another police officer proved to be ignorant of the First Amendment after he handcuffed New York Daily News photographer Julia Xanthos when she took a photograph of a rescue scene on a public sidewalk last May.

New York Police Officer John Evans sat her down on the sidewalk with her camera still strapped around her neck as other Daily News photographers snapped her photo. Then he transported her to a local precinct.

Evans planned on charging her with disorderly conduct, the old standby for officers when they have nothing substantial to charge you with.

According to the National Association of Press Photographers, Xanthos (who had just gotten married and now goes by Julia Economopolis) alleges that at the precinct, Officer Evans tightened her handcuffs further, causing her great pain and making her cry.

A desk sergeant apparently intervened and then Lt. Eugene Whyte of DCPI called the precinct after being notified and ordered her cuffs removed immediately.

Despite Officer Evans seeking to charge her with disorderly conduct, Lt. Whyte prevented further incident and a meeting will be held where the incident will discussed at length.

According to The Villager, Jennifer Mauer, communications director of the Daily News, wrote it off as a simple misunderstanding.

“There was just a misunderstanding at the initial emergency response,” Mauer said. “At the station, they realized she [Xanthos] was within her First Amendment rights, the arrest was voided, and she was released immediately.”

Officer Evans, a veteran from the Iraq war, was not around to comment.

Comments

Anonymous

4 years ago

I appreciate that you are rounding up these stories for me from all over the U.S. But what I really like is when you insert the Carlosisms I can’t get anywhere else. Let you personality out.

Anonymous

4 years ago

At least higher-ups understood that the officer on the scene was wrong.

Sometimes, the cops are the good guys. That’s the case in my new legal thriller, “A Good Conviction.”

A detective from Manhattan North Homicide works to untangle what is clearly a wrongful conviction by a prosecutor who knew the defendant was actually innocent, and hid the exculpatory evidence. Early readers have been captured by the emotion (and accuracy) of the depiction, which was aided by several NYPD officers. Learn more at …

http://www.amazon.com/Good-Conviction-Lewis-M-Weinstein/dp/1595941622/re...

LEW WEINSTEIN

Anonymous

4 years ago

speaking of new york, did you see this: [New York] City May Seek Permit and Insurance for Many Kinds of Public Photography

Anonymous

4 years ago

You don’t take a photograph, you make it. -Ansel Adams

Anonymous

4 years ago

A guy I know had his civil liberties abused today at UF:

http://www.gainesvillesun.com/article/20070917/NEWS/70917016/1002/NEWS

http://video.nbc6.net/player/?id=157250‘,’width=1100,height=760

Anonymous

3 years ago

[...] So let me get this straight: a police report was filed but all this allows V to do is claim it if she finds it on her own. Aren’t the police supposed to retrieve stolen property? Or at least investigate a little bit? I guess not. I suppose they’re too busy harassing photographers. [...]

Anonymous

3 years ago

bravo, Carlos — i had no idea!

Anonymous

3 years ago

Ok. They need to fire that officer, and charge him with assault.

Then, the reporter needs to file a suit against the police department for brutality and torture.

Anonymous

2 years ago

Bad apples like this jerk make the police look bad, who most are people doing their job, make these cops learn the rights of photographers which is badly needed.