LAist reporter Josie Huang was arrested by L.A. County Sheriff's deputies Saturday night while covering the shooting of two deputies in Compton.
Here is what happened, in her own words:
I was at St. Francis Medical Center in Lynwood last night covering a press conference led by Sheriff Villanueva about the shooting of two deputies. One of the deputies is a mom of a 6 year-old. I felt my chest tighten thinking about the little boy. https://t.co/6BpQheAnAU
— Josie Huang (@josie_huang) September 13, 2020
A handful of men were on the sidewalk. A couple were carrying large flags. Others were filming deputies and taunting them. One deputy pointed a weapon at the protesters.
— Josie Huang (@josie_huang) September 13, 2020
I started filming on my phone, standing off to the side. No one took issue with me being there. pic.twitter.com/ibanS1seyP
Here’s more of the video, the zoom is still on.
— Josie Huang (@josie_huang) September 13, 2020
I saw a commotion ahead of me. Deputies rushed one man and chased another.
I was filming an arrest when suddenly deputies shout “back up.” Within seconds, I was getting shoved around. There was nowhere to back up. pic.twitter.com/Y0amc46NZr
After my phone drops, it keeps recording and it captures two deputies damaging my phone by kicking and stepping on it. I can hear myself in the background shouting: “You guys are hurting me” and “Stop it.” It feels very out-of-body to play this back. pic.twitter.com/8o1kdjqlA9
— Josie Huang (@josie_huang) September 13, 2020
I’m grateful to the crew at @ABC7 @abc7leanne for filming what happened to me last night, and for Leanne and @OSV227Hex getting my phone back to me which let me share my videos. I know it is important to document what happened.
— Josie Huang (@josie_huang) September 13, 2020
Said phone is somehow alive! pic.twitter.com/EOCpilxUrq
Thank you all for the support and to the loveliest colleagues at @KPCC and @LAist. Our newsroom works really hard to cover our community and is proud to exercise our 1st Amendment rights, along with all the rest of you.
— Josie Huang (@josie_huang) September 13, 2020
LAist issued this official statement:
"We offer condolences to the two sheriff deputies who were shot Saturday evening.
"These are challenging and stressful times for everyone, but Josie Huang was arrested while doing her job. The charges should be dropped.
"Her arrest is the latest in a series of troubling interactions between our reporters and some local law enforcement officers. Journalists provide an essential service, providing fair, accurate and timely journalism and without them, our democracy is at risk."
L.A. County Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas, who represents Lynwood, called for an investigation by County Inspector General Max Huntsman and added that "The Citizens Oversight Commission must convene a special meeting on this matter." Huntsman later told LAist correspondent Frank Stoltze that he is opening an investigation into Huang's arrest.
