Arkansas Blog

By any chance does news reporter/photographer Bill Lawson look Hispanic? If so....this trooper probably has a side contract with Boss Womack and Rhineland Security to cuff every Mexican he runs across. Since Mexicans are well known to trespass and take pictures of disasters to later use to make fun of Jesus.....this trooper was saving America! He deserves a Presidential Medal of Freedum!

I've had the unique opportunity to work on both sides of this issue -- as both a firefighter and a newspaperman. I have never understood -- nor will I ever -- the thrill a certain percentage of cops (and even the occasional firefighter) get by shooing the media away from a scene. Unless there is some part of the story we don't know about... the charges should be dropped and the state police should apologize.

He waxes poetic in a few places... but click on my name for Bill Lawson's first-person account of the incident.

He waxes poetic in a few places... but click on my name for Bill Lawson's first-person account of the incident.

I sincerely hope Stephens does not drop this. America now jails AP reporters without charges or evidence for up to 20 months in Iraq.. which is exactly what they want to do at home.

There is nothing worse than a rogue authoritarian cop except perhaps a citizenry who tolerates a rogue authoritarian cop.

The people have a right to know and a reporter or citizen has a right to go about their lives without random trumped up bully tactics from police. The policeman abused his authority and several of an individuals and the community at large rights. This should not go unpunished.

In case any wonder..consider the confiscation of homes and property yesterday in NWA, we live in a police state. This incident with Bill Lawson is only a tip of the iceberg.
I doubt we ever get back to America, land of the brave and home of the free.

Ask any candidate for public office to tell you what is a police state?

They won't do it.
.

Trooper Weindruch can always get a job on the Hot Springs PD taking down skateboarders.

Wouldn't you suspect Weindruch is a German name? I'm betting he has a little goose in his step...

This sounds alot like the droppings that fall from the backside of a Horse. What a one sided account. I might have listened to his story, until he started with his military service and cancer. If he is as feeble as he claims, certainly he was in the way of the Brave Fireman trying
to save life and property.

Lawyer John Tull has been retained to represent Lawson and Stephens Media. Tull is probably one of the smartest people I know and I know from personal experience that he knows media and First Amendment law like the back of his hand. He's like an alligator -- if he clamps on the ASP's behind, they'll have to cut off a leg to get him off. They would do well to back down and do the right thing in this case.

Also, it's pretty funny that someone would describe a personal narrative a "one-sided account."

I know Bill Lawson personally. He is one of the most low-key, polite, affable individuals I know. He's been in the news game long enough not to aggravate a cop at a fire scene. This cop was angry about something, but it couldn't have been about Bill Lawson's behavior.

Wow, those comments from grizzly or grizzled or whatever have been wiped clean from the blog. I was thinking they sounded like someone who had been at the scene, like even Weindruch himself even, especially when he referenced some actions not available in Lawson's account. Having been the target of an overreacting police officer myself on one occasion, I tend to sympathize with Mr. Lawson, just for the record.

Whoever it was, it was obvious that they were taking it way too personal, but I guess I didn't see the reason for the removal. Max? Did I miss something?

THe cop was out of line. But folks, Lawson is no angel and probably triggered the response. Look at the archives of the DemZette for this loose cannon former gun totin , handcuffin Constable! He also hung out his shingle as a "personal lobbyist" and I once had the pleasure of sitting across the table from him in a local city hall, and he let me see that he was carrying a handgun under his jacket. how's that for subtle advocacy of his clients position? throw the trooper in jail but dont make a martyr out of Lawson the Pretend Lawman

ARK. BLOG: I think you're wrong on this one, Sanford.

Arkansas State Police = Arkansas Police State