Arrest of reporter following East Palestine derailment brings protests to Lisbon, Ohio
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LISBON, Ohio -- About a dozen protestors raised signs Tuesday against the arrest of a NewsNation reporter at an East Palestine press conference last week, calling for the dismissal of all charges.
"This protest is for our first amendment rights," Rick Barron said.
The protestors also called for the resignation of Columbiana County Sheriff Brian McLaughlin and the firing of Chief Deputy Jen Tucker and East Palestine Detective Dan Haueter.
When contacted about the protest, McLaughlin said he had no comment.
Evan Lambert-McMichael, 34, Washington, D.C., is scheduled for arraignment on charges of criminal trespass and resisting arrest, both misdemeanors, at 8:30 a.m. Feb. 23 in county Municipal Court. He posted a $750 bond the night of his arrest on Feb. 8.
His attorney, Frank Cassese of Youngstown, on Monday filed a written plea of not guilty and waiver of right to a speedy trial for his client. He also attempted to waive his presence at the arraignment, but a court spokesman said that's only acceptable in the case of a minor misdemeanor. Lambert-McMichael will have to appear for the arraignment in person.
The arrest took place after a news conference with Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine had started in the elementary school gym and the governor had introduced East Palestine Fire Chief Keith Drabick to let residents know they could go home.
Lambert-McMichael was reporting live from the rear of the gym while the press conference was going on at the front when two Ohio State Highway Patrol troopers and Ohio National Guard Major Gen. John Harris advised him to stop, then an argument allegedly ensued between the general and reporter.
An affidavit by Haueter, the arresting officer, said he, McLaughlin, Tucker and Lt. Caleb Wycoff of the Sheriff's Office went back and told Lambert-McMichael he needed to leave the gym. When he refused and was then told by the building superintendent/transportation supervisor to leave, he still refused and was taken into custody for criminal trespassing and allegedly pulled away, leading to the resisting arrest charge. Tucker and Haueter placed him in handcuffs and led him away.
Columbiana County Prosecutor Vito Abruzzino announced Friday that he was turning the case over to the Ohio Attorney General's office to handle, noting in court documents for the appointment of the special prosecutor that "the relationships between the various individuals and entities involved in the investigation and prosecution constitute a conflict of interest."
The protestors argued that the charges should have been dropped right away, noting that even the governor said the reporter had a right to be there. Numerous videos have been shown on social media of the scuffle, which Barron described as an assault of a young reporter.
Barron, who resides in Mahoning County, but has a daughter who lives in Enon Valley, Pa., not far from East Palestine, along with friends in the area, referenced the train derailment disaster and said it's a scary day in the country when people are told about toxic chemicals being blown up and a young reporter gets knocked to the ground and arrested.
He called for Abruzzino to drop the charges and said the county could be opened up to a lawsuit.
Protestors also questioned the legality of forcing someone off of property paid for with taxpayer funds, referring to the school where the press conference took place.
Barron said a representative of River Valley Organizing, Daniel Winston, who serves as the group's co-executive director, had also been there. The protest lasted a couple hours.