ABC producer arrested outside Brown Palace
By Sue Lindsay, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)
Published August 27, 2008 at 4:21 p.m.
Updated August 27, 2008 at 4:21 p.m.
A producer for ABC News was arrested today as he and a camera crew set up on the sidewalk outside the Brown Palace Hotel.
Asa Eslocker was arrested for trespass, interference and failure to obey an lawful order.
He was being processed from the Denver City Jail and is expected to be released on $300 bail, said his attorney Tom Kelley.
Eslocker is investigating the role of corporate lobbyists and wealthy donors at the convention for a series of Money Trail reports on ABC World News.
"The Brown's security guy got all upset and was telling them he owns the sidewalk around the Brown Palace," Kelley said.
"There's a vast difference between his story and the story cops are telling," Kelley said. "He was set up on a public sidewalk. He was doing an investigative piece and was told he could not be on the public sidewalk in front of the Brown Palace Hotel. We don't think that should have happened."
Kelley said ABC and the police both have video of the arrest.
"We'll take a look at the video and figure out what to do from there," he said.
Eslocker was arrested on a complaint by the Brown Palace Hotel, Kelley said.
He was put in handcuffs, loaded into the back of a police van and taken to city jail.
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August 27, 2008
4:38 p.m.
Suggest removal
Scott writes:
Good job RMN! It only took you until 4:21 PM to post this story that one of the posters put a link up on http://www.rockymountainnews.com/news... at 2 PM. Your right on top of the news, aren't you :^)
Here is the link to the ABC New site: http://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/Convent...
O.K. Here is what I had posted on the afore mentioned site at 2:40 PM.
I remember what DPD pulled back when Coors Field opened. The goons that own the Rockies didn't like the idea that a small businessman was giving away booklets outside of Coors Field on game days. The guy was making money by selling advertising space in the booklets. The goons would have lost money because the fans would take something free over something that the goons were selling inside. Therefore, the goons that own the Rockies had DPD throw the guy off of the public side walk and threatened him with prosecution. This put the guy out of business.
This bit with ABC News is quite similar. The goons (DNC this time) tells the DPD to interfere with someone's rights and the DPD immediately click their heels and haul off the victim. Of course later on an "investigation" will determine that the officers were wrong and DPD will "apologize" and Lickenpooper will declare the incident over. Of course Lickenpooper's DPD will have served the purpose of the goons (DNC) by obstructing ABC News from getting some less than flattering photos.
I use to stand up for DPD ... NO MORE. The Denver Police Department is the best police department money can buy.
Scott
August 27, 2008
4:40 p.m.
Suggest removal
M2 writes:
There are a ton of "public" areas that have been blocked off for the DNC... what makes this guy think he is so special that he can do whatever he pleases? Do your report from a few yards away. Schmuck.
August 27, 2008
4:42 p.m.
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CapnPoon writes:
Yep, the whole world is watching, even the minutiae of a little old major news organization producer getting cuffed n' stuffed by the Denver SS.....I mean, PD. Guess this is what they mean when they say "Freedom isn't free".
August 27, 2008
4:45 p.m.
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TheDenverB writes:
sadly, for once, i agree with Scott.
"his bit with ABC News is quite similar. The goons (DNC this time) tells the DPD to interfere with someone's rights and the DPD immediately click their heels and haul off the victim. Of course later on an "investigation" will determine that the officers were wrong and DPD will "apologize" and Lickenpooper will declare the incident over. Of course Lickenpooper's DPD will have served the purpose of the goons (DNC) by obstructing ABC News from getting some less than flattering photos."
spot on.
August 27, 2008
4:46 p.m.
Suggest removal
Scott writes:
M2, the newsies were trying to get photos from a public spot that is no where near the Pepsi center. You might try following this link: http://www.mapquest.com/maps?name=Bro... to see that the Brown Palace is no where close to the Pepsi Center.
Scott
August 27, 2008
4:47 p.m.
Suggest removal
Scott writes:
TheDenverB writes: "... sadly, for once, i agree with Scott."
Really tearing you up, huh? :-)
Scott
August 27, 2008
5:24 p.m.
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Devil_Dog writes:
Morale of the story...
Don't ever look to close at a politicians coffers. Getting arrested is the best that can happen some have paid a much higher price.
August 27, 2008
5:47 p.m.
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Scott writes:
ripcord, What's wrong with standing on the sidewalk and shooting photo's? Click on over to here, http://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/Convent... to get ABC's side of the story.
If these guys really were on the sidewalk, then DPD and Lickenpooper have got egg on their collective faces.
Scott
August 27, 2008
5:53 p.m.
Suggest removal
roger44 writes:
M2, he was there to report on lobbyists and wealthy donors, who buy politicians. Doing the public a favor, but of course you are the one person that don't want to hear about our crooked politicians. get a life
August 27, 2008
5:53 p.m.
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ejrhymer writes:
A reporter got arrested? How sad. They are all so honest and truthful.....whatever.
August 27, 2008
5:59 p.m.
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yaakovwatkins writes:
Do any of you know where the property line is next to the Brown Palace? (http://www.denvergov.org/DenverMaps/r...hedval=0234609038998) Depending on where outside the Brown Palace the guy was arrested, they might own it.
August 27, 2008
6:35 p.m.
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TheVentilator writes:
Zieg Heil!
August 27, 2008
6:39 p.m.
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GetReal writes:
We can't have duped Americans knowing the Dems are just as much in bed with big lobby as the Repubs, and their claims of "change" are just that, claims.
I still can't believe ABC is actually doing a story critical of Dems.
August 27, 2008
6:41 p.m.
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The_Punnisher writes:
Now that he has piss*d off a member of the M$M, no amount of Lickenpooper will get the mayor a government job...
More advice to the Hick: Time to bow out before your SS do any more damage than they already have....
No good will come out of this DNC fiasco. I have history on my side to prove it...
August 27, 2008
7:10 p.m.
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ThomasMc writes:
Welcome to the Democratic Party Police State, where there is no freedom of the press.
August 27, 2008
10:34 p.m.
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jpeaceokc writes:
Sounds to me like the Denver police have been taking lessons from the Communist Chinese.
August 28, 2008
12:35 a.m.
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mdouglasmartin writes:
"Lawful Order" We don't need no lawful order! We don't got to show you no lawful order!
For you leftists... a lawful order is one that is backed up by a law (e.g. ordinance). Because a person with a badge "orders" something does not make it a "lawful order." For the sake of your children's freedom, don't confuse "officer of the law" with "the law."
Thank you ABC for acting as the Press is supposed to act. Now, if they will just get into the courtrooms a bit more to see where the corruption is coming from...
August 28, 2008
4:55 a.m.
Suggest removal
GodzillaSr writes:
thanks you denver police!!! for showing the rest the country how stupid the force is. i hope, wish that the producer sues not only the city of denver but the two officers who think that a gun and a badge make them above the law.
August 28, 2008
6:27 a.m.
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jmkratt writes:
Have you guys watched the video? The guy obviously should have moved, but after 1 request he says "Hold on" and the cop pushes him into the street and tells him he is "impeding traffic". I thought that was pretty ridiculous.
August 28, 2008
8:37 a.m.
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cyberhatch writes:
Freedom of Speech?
I am astounded by the ignorance that surrounds free speech, The U.S. Supreme Court has repeatedly ruled towards maintaing the integrity of the First Amendment. In fact it has called the press "The fourth branch of government". For those Conservatives railing against the "Liberal Reporter", remember ABC broadcasts Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity and more Conservative voices. Would you want them shoved into the street too? All Conservatives, Liberals and Americans rely on freedom of speech. As far as the police, I think they're in need of some basic civil rights education. They didn't violate some obscure rule known only to those who it's important to, they shoved the FIRST AMENDMENT, along with the reporter, into the street! THE FIRST! What's up with that? They have a tough job yes but we don't give the hard working postal worker a pass after they shoot up the place do we?
As far as where the reporter was standing, the sidewalk, here's what the U.S. Supreme Court ruled about that. I think it's even simple enough for a thug to understand.
The more that a sidewalk or street resembles other sidewalks or streets, the more likely it is that courts will consider it a protected public forum. For instance, the Supreme Court found that the sidewalk surrounding the Supreme Court building itself was a public forum because it was indistinguishable from other sidewalks in Washington, D.C. Grace, 461 U.S. at 179 (“The sidewalks comprising the outer boundaries . . . are indistinguishable from any other sidewalks in Washington, D.C., and we can discern no reason why they should be treated any differently.”).
Let's look at the charges, trespass, interference and failure to follow a lawful order. Ok, looks like the U.S. Supreme Court has covered trespass and interference, and since the reporter was well within his rights, the request from the police was actually UNLAWFUL! Thank you Asa, you risked your life as you were shoved into traffic protecting our rights! We need to demand that the police learn to respect the citizens, we're the ones who have empowered them and we actually have the ability to disempower them. They work for us, as much as they may not want to admit it, we're their bosses. Let's get that straight.
August 28, 2008
9:10 a.m.
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Vinadetta writes:
You are allowed to photograph anything you want on a public street!!! As long as he wasn't on private property this reporter was well within the law. This is truly a police state when these types of things happen. WAKE UP AMERICA!! It is time to understand how scary and dangerous things are when this type of things happen. I am in true disgust of the City of Denver for this event along with the Code Pink incident
August 28, 2008
10:27 a.m.
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jlong writes:
Scott,
LMAO I absolutely agree with every word of your post. All laugh all day thinking about it.
August 28, 2008
10:15 p.m.
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AmericanPeople writes:
There seems to be a lot of inaccurate reporting on this, but other than the Denver PD and Boulder Sheriffs Department breaking the law with their arrest of a journalist, it seems that the DNC is ultimately responsible for this as they "assigned" this Sheriffs Deputy to the hotel -- the one who pushed the reporter into the street with oncoming traffic. I thought the police were all about public safety and to protect and serve. Pushing someone onto the street isn't very safe. The DNC most likely told "their" Sheriffs deputy to "attack" the ABC Journalist who was doing investigative reporting on Lobbyists and VIP Donors -- in other words, following the money. Speaking of money, I wonder if the DNC was paying for their deputy's salary? Probably not, another local taxpayer expense. But, hey taxpayers can afford it. I wonder if having a journalist arrested and stopping Freedom of the press is "The Change" Barrack Obama and the Democrats want to bring to Washington. Quotes are here on the "updates": http://theosmblog.com/