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Citizen journalist disputes arrest at GOP event
WSB TV Channel 2 News
By Lori Geary
September 2, 2014
ATLANTA — A citizen journalist arrested for videotaping political speakers at a public event on private property tells Channel 2 Action News she had permission from the owner.
Nydia Tisdale faces felony charges following the incident at a Republican rally held at Burt’s Farm in Dawsonville Aug. 23.
Tisdale told Channel 2 political reporter Lori Geary that candidates like Gov. Nathan Deal and Labor Commissioner Mark Butler had no problem with her taping the event, but she claims a sheriff’s captain abused his authority. The Dawson County sheriff disagrees.
Tisdale recorded video of speakers and continued to record during her arrest.
“Let go of me. What is your name sir? Let go of me. I spoke with the owner prior to this event,” Tisdale says on the tape.
“I didn’t know who approached me. There are three different men who are unidentified, unnamed,” Tisdale told Geary. "I’m filming. I’m not turning my head to get a good look at them because I’m recording the speaker.”
Tisdale said she didn’t know that the person who pulled her arm behind her and pushed her against a table was a Dawson County deputy.
“He slams me up against the counter top and bends me over and pushes his body against mine,” Tisdale described.
“I’ve been real nice, now you’re going to jail for resisting arrest,” the deputy says on the video.
“OK. I’ll leave,” Tisdale responds.
“No, you’re not leaving. Now you’re going to jail. You resisted me and my lawful duties, trying to get you to cooperate,” the deputy says.
At one point in the video, the chairwoman of the Dawson County GOP objects to the way Tisdale is being treated and storms off.
According to the Sheriff’s Office report obtained by Geary, Tisdale was eventually handcuffed and taken to the Dawson County Jail. She’s charged with criminal trespassing and felony obstruction of an officer. She was released on a $6,000 bond.
Dawson County Sheriff Billy Carlisle said he was shocked by the video so he suspended Capt. Tony Wooten for two days with pay and did his own internal investigation.
“When she refused to leave, Officer Wooten started escorting her off the property. That’s when she started struggling, struck Officer Wooten in the shin and in the jaw and that became obstruction of an officer at that time,” Carlisle told Geary.
Carlisle now says Wooten’s actions were justified and there was probable cause for arrest.
Tisdale disagrees.
“I’ve got a camera. It’s not a gun, it’s not a knife, it’s not a sword. It’s just a camera,” Tisdale said.
http://wsbtv.com/news/news/local/citizen-journalist-disputes-arrest-gop-event/nhDwx/