Posts on social media show arrests actually taking place on May 16.
By H.G. Watson, Managing Editor
Details are still emerging about the arrest of two journalists at a collision scene in a Hamilton community on the evening of May 16.
According to the Hamilton Spectator, freelance reporter David Ritchie was arrested and charged with obstructing police. Global News cameraman and editor Jeremy Cohn was arrested and released.
Both were reporting on the scene of the death of a 10-year-old girl in Hamilton, who was reportedly hit by a car.
Other media at the scene caught images of the arrests as they happened.
And things are getting tense here. @Media371 and this Global photographer both arrested by @HamiltonPolice. #HamOnt pic.twitter.com/uBqrK3H00m
— Barry Gray (@_barrygray_) May 16, 2017
Global photographer & @Media371 both arrested by @HamiltonPolice on scene just for doing their jobs. #HamOnt pic.twitter.com/9pE2Y7mShY
— Barry Gray (@_barrygray_) May 16, 2017
Here is @Media371 after being detained by @HamiltonPolice for 1 1/2 hours. @CTVToronto pic.twitter.com/4z0n35pufF
— Sean Leathong (@CTVSean) May 17, 2017
Troy Reeb, senior vice president of news, radio and station operations at Corus Entertainment, said on Twitter that last night that while their journalist was released, the incident “merits further investigation.”
We are deeply concerned by the circumstances surrounding the arrest of a @globalnews journalist and another photographer in Hamilton today.
— Troy Reeb (@troyreebglobal) May 17, 2017
While we are satisfied our employee @JeremyGlobalTV was unharmed and released without charge, the incident merits further investigation.
— Troy Reeb (@troyreebglobal) May 17, 2017
Ritchie tweeted that he would be “seeking resolution.”
Thanks for the support, I have great relationships with many first responders. This was an isolated issue and I will be seeking resolution.
— DR (@Media371) May 17, 2017
Canadian Journalists for Free Expression issued a statement on May 17, 2017 calling on Hamilton Police Service to dismiss the charges against Ritchie and hold a public inquiry into “the circumstances which lead to the forceful detention and arrest of members of the media.”
Update, May 18, 2017: The Hamilton Spectator reports that Hamilton police chief Eric Girt will reviewing the arrests.
We will continue to update this story as more information becomes available.
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