Olson said he was “arrested for just doing my job.” As with previous arrests of journalists, no charges were filed against Olson, who by Monday night was back shooting photos.Police in Ferguson had been preventing crowds from gathering on the streets in Ferguson on Monday.An “organised protest zone” was set up close to the convenience store where unarmed teenager Michael Brown allegedly stole cigars minutes before he was shot by a police officer. Media were directed to view the zone from another area opposite it. Olson was across the street from the press area when he was detained.Pancho Bernasconi, vice-president for news at Getty Images, said before his release: “Getty Images staff photographer Scott Olson was arrested this afternoon in Ferguson, Missouri, while on assignment documenting the events there. We at Getty Images stand firmly behind our colleague Scott Olson and the right to report from Ferguson. Getty Images is working to secure his release as soon as possible.“We strongly object to his arrest and are committed to ensuring he is able to resume his important work of capturing some of the most iconic images of this news story.”Barack Obama condemned the arrest of journalists in Ferguson last week. “Police should not be bullying or arresting journalists just trying to do their jobs,” he said then.Authorities in Ferguson later signed a court declaration pledging not to arrest journalists covering the protests, unless they posed a threat to public safety or were obstructing police.
via Police in Ferguson arrest Getty photographer Scott Olson | World news | theguardian.com.