“CNN’s reporter Omar Jimenez was taken into police custody during a live broadcast at the site of the protests in Minneapolis, after clearly identifying himself to officers. Jimenez’s crew were also placed in handcuffs.”
A CNN crew (Reporter Omar Jimenez – Producer Bill Kirkos – Photojournalist Leonel Mendez) were arrested while giving a live television report today early in the morning in Minneapolis. The arrest took place as the crew covered ongoing protests over the death of George Floyd.
State police detained CNN correspondent Omar Jimenez, his producer and his photojournalist shortly after 5 a.m. CT (6 a.m. ET) as Jimenez was reporting live from a street south of downtown, near where a police precinct building was earlier set ablaze.
CNN reporter Jimenez could be seen on video holding his CNN badge while reporting, identifying himself as a reporter, and telling the officers the crew would move wherever officers needed them to. An officer gripped his arm as Jimenez talked, then put him in handcuffs.
“We can move back to where you like. We are live on the air here. … Put us back where you want us. We are getting out of your way — wherever you want us (we’ll) get out of your way…
We were just getting out of your way when you were advancing through the intersection,”
Police told the crew they were being detained because they were told to move and didn’t, one member of the CNN crew relayed to the network.
CNN crew had been taken to the city’s downtown public safety building after their arrest, but were released after 6 a.m. CT.
Jimenez, after his release, reported live outside from downtown and said he’d been treated cordially after he’d been led away.
“We’re doing OK, now. There were a few uneasy moments there,”
Information taken by CNN
By Alex Ammohostianos
