Two Journalists Arrested Amid Renewed Clashes In Ferguson, Mo.
Officers reportedly ordered customers to leave a McDonald's where the reporters had been working. Tensions between protesters and police have rocked the St. Louis suburb since 18-year-old Michael Brown was killed on Saturday.
@HuffingtonPost reporter @ryanjreilly arrested when police closed Ferguson McDonalds. #MikeBrown #Ferguson
Robert Cohen@kodacohenFollow
@HuffingtonPost reporter @ryanjreilly arrested when police closed Ferguson McDonalds. #MikeBrown #Ferguson
6:23 PM - 13 Aug 14RetweetFavorite
Reporters Wesley Lowery of the Washington Post and Ryan J. Reilly of the Huffington Post were working inside a McDonald's in Ferguson, Mo., on Wednesday when officers arrived and arrested the two journalists.
SWAT just invade McDonald's where I'm working/recharging. Asked for ID when I took photo.
Ryan J. Reilly@ryanjreillyFollow
SWAT just invade McDonald's where I'm working/recharging. Asked for ID when I took photo.
4:53 PM - 13 Aug 14RetweetFavorite
Police come into McD where me and @ryanjreilly working. Try to kick everyone out.
Wesley Lowery@WesleyLoweryFollow
Police come into McD where me and @ryanjreilly working. Try to kick everyone out.
4:53 PM - 13 Aug 14RetweetFavorite
"We cannot guarantee your safety. We will not be answering 911 calls"
Wesley Lowery@WesleyLoweryFollow
"We cannot guarantee your safety. We will not be answering 911 calls"
4:53 PM - 13 Aug 14RetweetFavorite
Photo of reporter I believe to be @ryanjreilly being cuffed and put in a police van minutes ago in #Ferguson
Jon Swaine@jonswaineFollow
Photo of reporter I believe to be @ryanjreilly being cuffed and put in a police van minutes ago in #Ferguson
5:14 PM - 13 Aug 14RetweetFavorite
Information on the status of the two men was not immediately available.
I just called Ferguson police chief to ask about @WesleyLowery and @ryanjreilly, told him what I knew. His response: "Oh, God."
Matt Pearce@mattdpearceFollow
I just called Ferguson police chief to ask about @WesleyLowery and @ryanjreilly, told him what I knew. His response: "Oh, God."
8:30 PM - 13 Aug 14RetweetFavorite
Called #ferguson police to ask abt our reporter @ryanjreilly being arrested. Told they couldn't tell me. I asked for his name. He hung up.
Amanda Terkel@aterkelFollow
Called #ferguson police to ask abt our reporter @ryanjreilly being arrested. Told they couldn't tell me. I asked for his name. He hung up.
5:39 PM - 13 Aug 14RetweetFavorite
The two reporters later confirmed on Twitter they were taken into custody and released.
Well, @WesleyLowery and I have been released. That was an experience.
Ryan J. Reilly@ryanjreillyFollow
Well, @WesleyLowery and I have been released. That was an experience.
5:41 PM - 13 Aug 14RetweetFavorite
The Ferguson police chief told a Los Angeles Times reporter that St. Louis County officials were handling operations.
Ferguson chief tells me @WesleyLowery and @ryanjreilly's arresters were "probably somebody who didn't know better."
Matt Pearce@mattdpearceFollow
Ferguson chief tells me @WesleyLowery and @ryanjreilly's arresters were "probably somebody who didn't know better."
5:47 PM - 13 Aug 14RetweetFavorite
I just talked to the Ferguson chief again about Wes and Ryan. "I told them to release them," he said of the riot command.
Matt Pearce@mattdpearceFollow
I just talked to the Ferguson chief again about Wes and Ryan. "I told them to release them," he said of the riot command.
5:46 PM - 13 Aug 14RetweetFavorite
Lowery detailed the arrest and a use of force by at least one officer against him.
Officers decided we weren't leaving McDonalds quickly enough, shouldn't have been taping them.
Wesley Lowery@WesleyLoweryFollow
Officers decided we weren't leaving McDonalds quickly enough, shouldn't have been taping them.
5:40 PM - 13 Aug 14RetweetFavorite
Officers slammed me into a fountain soda machine because I was confused about which door they were asking me to walk out of
Wesley Lowery@WesleyLoweryFollow
Officers slammed me into a fountain soda machine because I was confused about which door they were asking me to walk out of
5:44 PM - 13 Aug 14RetweetFavorite
As he was arrested, he said he saw a black man in the back of a police truck who was refused paramedics.
"I'm dying. I'm dying. Please call help he screamed." They mocked him
Wesley Lowery@WesleyLoweryFollow
"I'm dying. I'm dying. Please call help he screamed." They mocked him
5:45 PM - 13 Aug 14RetweetFavorite
He was not given the names of any of the officers involved.
Detained, booked, given answers to no questions. Then just let out
Wesley Lowery@WesleyLoweryFollow
Detained, booked, given answers to no questions. Then just let out
5:46 PM - 13 Aug 14RetweetFavorite
"The chief thought he was doing you a favor" - police officer tells me about release. With no charges, no police report
Wesley Lowery@WesleyLoweryFollow
"The chief thought he was doing you a favor" - police officer tells me about release. With no charges, no police report
6:04 PM - 13 Aug 14RetweetFavorite
It's as if the arrest and the assaults never took place. Just opened the doors and let is out as if we'd let it go
Wesley Lowery@WesleyLoweryFollow
It's as if the arrest and the assaults never took place. Just opened the doors and let is out as if we'd let it go
6:04 PM - 13 Aug 14RetweetFavorite
The treatment they received from police was far better than that of others in Ferguson, Lowery noted.
I'm emotional, but need to note: Ryan and I are fine. Have seen people in Ferguson hurt by gas/rubber bullets. This wasn't that
Wesley Lowery@WesleyLoweryFollow
I'm emotional, but need to note: Ryan and I are fine. Have seen people in Ferguson hurt by gas/rubber bullets. This wasn't that
6:00 PM - 13 Aug 14RetweetFavorite
Lowery captured video of his arrest Wednesday inside the McDonald's.
Marty Baron, executive editor of the Washington Post, released a statement condemning the arrest of Lowery, saying "there was absolutely no justification for his arrest."
My statement on arrest of @wesleylowery in Ferguson: "assault on the freedom of the press to cover the news" http://t.co/APWzcLdWVI
Marty Baron@PostBaronFollow
My statement on arrest of @wesleylowery in Ferguson: "assault on the freedom of the press to cover the news" http://t.co/APWzcLdWVI
9:49 PM - 13 Aug 14RetweetFavorite
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Claudia Koerner is an editor and reporter for BuzzFeed News and is based in Los Angeles.
Contact Claudia Koerner at claudia.koerner@buzzfeed.com.
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