Suffolk County prosecutors officially dropped charges against a Long Island news cameraman arrested at a crime scene in Bohemia two weeks ago.
The 34-year-old freelance videographer, Phil Datz, was cleared of an obstruction charge Tuesday.
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Datz, who was working for Stringer News Network, was taken into custody at the scene of a police pursuit July 29 after a sergeant told him he wasn’t allowed to be there and Datz later moved further away and resumed shooting. The video encounter has been posted on the Internet.
The New York Civil Liberties Union, which represented Datz, said it is seeking a meeting with police brass to ensure all people have the right to photograph and videotape in public.
Police Commissioner Richard Dormer has said that all officers would receive refresher training on dealing with the media.
The Press Club of Long Island said it was pleased that police and prosecutors moved to drop the charges. The local trade group is also hosting a meeting with reporters Thursday to use the incident as a learning experience.
The owner of Stringer News has said this was the third time one of his employees was arrested in an many years.
-With Associated Press.
