Scott Pickey, the news director at Wilmington ABC affiliate WWAY, was arrested Monday for driving his station vehicle through the Martin Luther King Day parade route in Wilmington, N.C. WWAY anchor Cacky Catlett reported on the arrest at the top of the station’s 5 p.m. newscast:
During the parade, which started at noon on Front Street, police would not allow WWAY employees to leave the station’s parking lot to get to news coverage. After police told a reporter he would have to wait for the entire parade, which ended after 2 p.m., Pickey asked officers again to allow the reporter to leave during one of the many breaks in the parade. Officers refused to allow this or contact a supervisor for permission. When Pickey got in the car and drove out of the parking lot during another break, police arrested him. He is charged with failure to obey a traffic officer and careless and reckless operation. Pickey was released from jail under a $1,000 unsecured bond.
Pickey’s arrest was also reported briefly on WECT, Wilmington’s NBC affiliate.