Police say NewsNation’s Evan Lambert was being ‘aggressive’ towards Maj. Gen. John Harris and refused to leave when asked by police.
EAST PALESTINE, Ohio — The East Palestine Police Department has released more information about the arrest of NewsNation reporter Evan Lambert during Wednesday’s train derailment briefing.
According to a news release, Lambert’s live reporting during the news conference featuring Gov. Mike DeWine was “loud” inside the East Palestine Elementary School gymnasium. Members of the Ohio State Highway Patrol along with Ohio National Guard Adjutant General John Harris advised Lambert and the news crew to stop reporting.
Police say an argument then ensued between Lambert and Harris. Harris told officers that Lambert came at him in an “aggressive manner,” resulting in the Harris pushing Lambert away when he felt threatened.
“I instinctively put my hands on his chest to keep him from bumping into me, which I felt was inevitable if I had not protected myself,” Harris said in a statement made to investigators and provided by his office.
Harris added that he removed his hands after less than a second and walked away after Lambert yelled that he had been assaulted, the statement added.
Four law enforcement members told Lambert that he needed to leave the gymnasium as the incident was escalating into a physical confrontation. According to the officers, Lambert refused. A Ohio State Highway Patrol trooper, an East Palestine detective, and a school official asked Lambert to move outside. Again, police say Lambert declined.
“With all reasonable means to deescalate exhausted,” two law enforcement officers tried to take Lambert out of the building and told the reporter he was being arrested. East Palestine police says while being escorted out, Lambert attempted to pull away and was resisting arrest, which led to him being taken to the ground. Police add that Lambert was initially not listening to the instructions of officers and attempted to get up, before finally complying. He was taken to the Columbiana County Jail by sheriff’s deputies before being released approximately five hours later.
NewsNation indicated that Lambert was charged with disorderly conduct and criminal trespassing.
Video of the incident was captured by 3News showing law enforcement surrounding Lambert and ordering him to leave.
As the gathering moved beyond the doors of the gymnasium, police are seen taking Lambert to the ground. A female voice in the background is asking officers to stop, shouting “This is bad. This is bad. Stop this. Evan, I’m sorry.”
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