The reporter was arrested after officers said he was being too loud while the Ohio governor spoke about a train derailment in the state.
Gov. Mike DeWine of Ohio during a news conference at a school gymnasium in East Palestine on Monday. Evan Lambert, a reporter for NewsNation, was arrested in the same gym during a news conference two days later.Credit...Gene J. Puskar/Associated Press
By Eduardo Medina
Published Feb. 8, 2023Updated Feb. 9, 2023, 4:14 a.m. ET
A reporter who was covering a news conference on the train derailment in Ohio that led to the release of toxic fumes was arrested following a live shot on Wednesday, after officers told him to be quiet while the governor spoke, according to the cable channel where he works, NewsNation.
The reporter, Evan Lambert, had been waiting for the news conference in East Palestine, Ohio, to start at 3 p.m., but it was delayed until about 5.p.m. The later time coincided with when he was scheduled to do a live shot for the show, Mike Viqueira, the Washington Bureau Chief of NewsNation, said in an interview on Wednesday night.
Mr. Lambert was charged with disorderly conduct and criminal trespassing, according to Lt. Seth Fraser of the Columbiana County Jail in Ohio. Lieutenant Fraser said in a brief interview on Wednesday evening that Mr. Lambert would be held in the jail overnight and arraigned on Thursday morning.
But on Wednesday night, NewsNation reported that Mr. Lambert had been released from jail and broadcast an interview with him moments after he was freed.But on Wednesday night, NewsNation reported that Mr. Lambert had been released from jail and broadcast an interview with him moments after he was freed.
“No journalist expects to be arrested when you’re doing your job,” Mr. Lambert told NewsNation, noting that he could not speak in detail about the episode because the charges were still pending.
Lieutenant Fraser said that he had been fielding calls all day from people “asking why he can’t be released tonight,” referring to Mr. Lambert.
It is unclear what agencies were involved in the arrest. The East Palestine Police Department and the Columbiana County Sheriff’s Office did not immediately respond to phone calls seeking comment on Wednesday night.
The arrest angered Mr. Lambert’s reporting colleagues.
“I’m infuriated, I’m outraged — I don’t believe this should happen anywhere in America,” said Mr. Viqueira, who spoke with Mr. Lambert on Wednesday while he was in jail. “It shocks me that law enforcement is that disdainful of the right of the press to report on the activities, comments and policies of public officials, especially in a crisis.”Officials in Ohio had been updating residents on Wednesday about the status of the train derailment in East Palestine, about 50 miles northwest of Pittsburgh. The derailment, which happened Friday night, caused a huge fire to erupt in the town of 4,700 residents and led to the release of toxic fumes on Monday.