At fire scene, Nevada deputies throw 60yo newspaper photog to ground, push face into gravel

Source: Reno Gazette-Journal

A 60-year-old Reno Gazette-Journal photojournalist was thrown to the ground, handcuffed and suffered minor injuries Monday after sheriff’s deputies alleged he obstructed and resisted them while trying to take photographs of a destructive fire in Sun Valley.

... (Tim) Dunn, the newspaper’s photo director and a 21-year employee there, was taking photos of a fire that broke out near Flora Way and East Fourth Avenue that ultimately destroyed two homes and multiple structures.

Dunn said he was told to leave the area and was directed to another location farther away from the scene. He said he was ultimately taken to the ground by two deputies — one who shoved his foot on his back and the other who pushed his face in the gravel. His cheek has a large scrape on it.

Dunn said the deputies accused him of trying to impersonate a firefighter because he was wearing yellow protective fire gear, a helmet and goggles. Media training recommends wearing these clothes while covering wildfires.

Read more: http://www.rgj.com/article/20120619/NEWS/306190039/RGJ-photo-chief-covering-Sun-Valley-fire-taken-ground-cited-by-deputies