LAist Reporter Josie Huang Arrested While Covering Protest

Los Angeles County Sheriff’s deputies arrested KPCC/LAist Correspondent Josie Huang Saturday night while she was covering the ambush shooting of two deputies in Compton.

Even as she was being thrown to the ground, Huang — who was wearing a lanyard with her press credential hanging from her neck —was recording the encounter. In video that continued to film after the phone was knocked from her hand, Huang can be heard repeatedly identifying herself as a reporter and saying KPCC multiple times. You also can hear Huang yelling: "You're hurting me."

The incident occurred outside St. Francis Medical Center in Lynwood, where the two deputies were being treated for gunshot wounds. Huang had just finished covering a 10 p.m. news conference by Sheriff Alex Villanueva.

Huang, an award-winning journalist, allegedly obstructed justice. The department initially refused to provide details of what happened, but later, Deputy Juanita Navarro of the Sheriff's Information Bureau confirmed that deputies took Huang into custody on suspicion of obstruction of justice by "interfering with a lawful arrest." Huang says she was trying to document the arrest of a protester.

Navarro also said Huang "didn't have proper credentials," but she was clearly wearing press credentials around her neck.

Video shows at least five deputies pinning Huang to the pavement, handcuffing her, and placing her in a patrol car.

This is our terrific reporter @josie_huang who has been covering this story for hours. @LACoSheriff @LASDHQ where is Josie? Why are reporters being arrested? Where can I go get her? https://t.co/2eomkLwN3K — Megan Garvey (@garveymcvg) September 13, 2020

Huang was taken to the women’s jail at the Century Regional Detention Center. She was released at about 4 a.m. without bail, but was cited with an obstruction charge. A KPCC newsroom executive said Huang had visible bruises and scrapes, a sore shoulder and a blackened eye. LAist and KPCC called for an apology from the department. Undersheriff Tim Murakami said he would look into the incident.

One protester was arrested on the same obstruction charge as Huang.

"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."

We must continue pray for the two ambushed sheriff deputies and their families.🙏🏾 We must also require that the Inspector General launch an immediate investigation into the arrest of @josie_huang. The Citizens Oversight Commission must convene a special meeting on this matter. — Mark Ridley-Thomas (@mridleythomas) September 13, 2020

Huang’s arrest sparked outrage among fellow journalists, who called her arrest a violation of the First Amendment.

This is a fear all editors have as they send especially POC journalists to cover very important but tense news situations. @MayorOfLA @LACoSheriff @LAPDChiefMoore @HildaSolis what are we doing to heal this city and protect everyone from violence? And uphold the 1st amendment? https://t.co/iQxK3gTiDJ — L.A. TACO 🌴🌮 (@LATACO) September 13, 2020

If you don't know @josie_huang's work, she's been covering underreported Los Angeles Asian American stories for years and reporting from all sides of the protests throughout the summer

She's an incredibly valuable journalist who was wearing her credentials and doing her job https://t.co/9rX58EYW65 — sean typos miura (@seanmiura) September 13, 2020

NPR is appalled by the arrest of Josie Huang, a KPCC public radio reporter, who was performing her job last night—gathering facts to inform the American public. The rights of journalists are protected by the First Amendment, and essential to an informed public and our Democracy. — nprextra (@NPRextra) September 13, 2020

The arrest comes amid rising tensions between law enforcement and journalists in Los Angeles – especially during police protests. In May, Long Beach Police fired a rubber bullet that hit LAist and KPCC Correspondent Adolfo Guzman Lopez. Journalists have been injured across the country covering protests this summer.