This contribution is offered by Matt Eich of our class. The story appeared in the Galveston, Texas newspaper.
By Scott E. Williams
The Daily News
Published May 15, 2008
GALVESTON — A jury cleared a former Daily News photographer Wednesday of a charge that he interfered with police during 2007’s Mardi Gras.
The case raised questions about whether police destroyed evidence and prompted debate about the rights of journalists and ordinary citizens to monitor the actions of law enforcement.
Nick Adams, who now works for The Appeal-Democrat in Northern California, was an intern with The Daily News in February 2007, when he was taking pictures at Mardi Gras. Adams was photographing an arrest in Galveston when League City officer Cliff Woitena saw him and told him to stop taking pictures.
When Adams did not, he said, the officer took him to the ground and arrested him.
Defense attorney Anthony Griffin, whom The Daily News retained to defend Adams, said a digital index from Adams’ camera showed police deleted photos while Adams was in custody. The images would have shown Adams was outside a police-secured perimeter, Griffin said.
