For Immediate Release
May 18, 2017
Vancouver, B.C. – The News Photographers Association of Canada (NPAC) is
gravely concerned about the arrest of Hamilton area freelance photojournalist
David Ritchie on Tuesday night at the scene of a crime, echoing yesterday’s
statement from the Canadian Journalists for Free Expression (CJFE).
On May 16, 2017 at approximately 7 PM local time, freelance photojournalist
David Ritchie and Global News photojournalist Jeremy Cohn were arrested by
Hamilton Police Services at Evans Rd. and Highway 5, where a 10-year-old girl
died after being struck by a car. Ritchie is facing a charge for obstructing police.
Ritchie is a freelance photojournalist who is well known throughout the Hamilton
area. He has stated that he was respecting the standard crime scene protocol for
media by waiting behind the perimeter that had been put up by law enforcement
officials.
NPAC is deeply concerned that this type of police aggression is an infringement
of the freedom of the press and believes that a free and independent press that
holds public authorities accountable is the foundation for rights and freedoms of
all Canadians.
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Media Contact:
Laura Ballance
604-771-5176
laura@lbmg.ca