Freelance photographer Julian Harrison, well-known to reporters and editors in Durham, was “tackled and arrested” and had his equipment confiscated yesterday as he photographed the scene of a shooting at the Target store on Renaissance Parkway. According to the report in The Herald-Sun, Harrison hadn’t crossed any police lines and was taking photographs from a spot he could legally be in. But some overzealous policeman decided that just wouldn’t do. When told to desist, Harrison told the cop, “You’re not my photo editor.” Nice line, but the cop didn’t think so. He put the cuffs on Julian.
He was taken downtown where the magistrate on duty showed much more common sense than the police. As reported:
Magistrate Eric Van Vleet refused to charge Harrison, and told officers to return his photographic equipment.
Van Vleet said officers never alleged Harrison had crossed the police line and that Harrison had done nothing wrong.
