N&O wants an apology

CHAPEL HILL -- The News & Observer is seeking a public apology from the Town of Chapel Hill after one of its reporters was detained with protesters Sunday afternoon.

"She wasn't doing anything illegal," said John Drescher, N&O executive editor. "She was doing her job, and she identified herself as doing her job."

Staff writer Katelyn Ferral arrived at the former Yates Motor Co. building at 419 W. Franklin St. about 4:30 p.m. to report on the occupation of the building.

Ferral was on the scene for approximately 15 minutes, interviewing people inside and walking around the site, when she heard demonstrators say police were gathering down the block.

When police approached the building, they ordered everyone to get on the ground, but they allowed Ferral to continue to shoot photographs. After a few more minutes they told Ferral to get on the ground as well.

Ferral told them she was a member of the media. She was wearing her press photo badge around her neck.

She remained face-down on the ground for about 15 minutes before she was cuffed with plastic zip ties and told to sit in a line with about 12 other people who had been detained.

After about 30 minutes police took her picture, took down her name, address, date of birth and drivers license number.

Ferral asked why she was being detained and was told that she was not on the bus with those charged with breaking and entering because she wasn't inside the building.

Police told Ferral she would be arrested if she was caught on the premises again, Ferral said.

After she was released, Ferral was not allowed to take additional photographs and was told to go across the street.

During a press conference Monday, Police Chief Chris Blue said officers detained everyone that was either in the building or at the entrance. Ferral was treated like anyone else who was outside the front of the building, he said.

"The normal practice in those cases is for the police to respect the job of the reporter," Drescher said. "It is certainly reasonable to ask a reporter to step off to the side while they do their work, and we understand that. It was not reasonable to ask her to lie face-down on the ground for 15 minutes and then handcuff her and detain her for half an hour."

Chapel Hill Mayor Mark Kleinschmidt said he has asked the town manager to investigate the situation.

"This town is committed to every element of the First Amendment, not just speech and assembly, but also the press, and we will be looking into that incident," Klein schmidt said Monday at a press conference.