Photojournalist Assaulted by LAPD Still Behind Bars
Freelance photographer Tyson Heder is still behind bars after he was assaulted and arrested during the Occupy LA raid early Wednesday morning.
Simone Wilson of the LA Weekly provided an update of the messy scene at the Metropolitan Detention Center:
The situation at the Metropolitan Detention Center — where photojournalist Heder and gobs of other arrestees are being held — is, by all accounts, total chaos.
“They’re all scheduled to be out of here by Friday, within the 48 hours,” says watch commander Sergeant Angelo. “Thats our goal.” But he adds that “there were so many bodies, so many people” that he can’t guarantee anything.
Heder’s attorney, Joe Singleton, says there’s a “big wait” at the detention center, where he’s trying to help Heder. “The court is having problems tracking down the right paperwork from the City Attorney’s office. They’re just trying to figure out what’s going on. Nobody’s told me anything.”
Gene Griffin — a friend of Heder’s who has set up a fund for bail, medical bills, broken cameras and the like, all the way from Texas — says Singleton sent him a photo of Heder after the arrest.
“It appears that Tyson has a couple black eyes and a bump on his head,” says Griffin.
Heder was not selected by the LAPD to take part in the exclusive media pool. Regardless, he didn’t deserve to get roughed up.
According to the Facebook group “Free Journalist Tyson Heder Now,” bail is set for $20,000.
