CBS News Reporter Sopan Deb Arrested While Covering Donald Trump Rally

He's charged with resisting arrest despite no evidence of doing so.
CBS News reporter Sopan Deb was detained Friday night in Chicago.
CBS News reporter Sopan Deb was detained Friday night in Chicago.
CBSN

CBS News reporter Sopan Deb was arrested Friday night while covering protests surrounding Donald Trump's canceled rally in Chicago.

Deb, who has covered the Republican presidential front-runner's candidacy since last summer, was filming video of a man whose face was bloody and lying on the ground near police at the time of his arrest, according to a "CBS This Morning" report Saturday.

"Deb continued to roll as police kept watch," the CBS report noted. "Without warning, Deb was grabbed from behind and thrown to the ground."

A police officer placed his boot on Deb's neck to keep him in place on the ground, according to the account he provided his network.

Illinois State Police charged Deb with resisting arrest though the network reported that neither his video, nor that of a nearby film crew, showed any sign of resistance. The reporter can also be seen on video identifying himself as a credentialed member of the media.

Sopan Deb was arrested despite identifying as a member of the media.
Sopan Deb was arrested despite identifying as a member of the media.
CBS News

Deb later recovered his camera, which was left on the ground as police arrested him. His arrest was also captured on Fox News during its coverage outside the venue at the University of Illinois.

.@CBSNews' @SopanDeb arrested at 7:19pm CT while covering protest outside @realDonaldTrump canceled Chicago rally pic.twitter.com/necaLCtRUF

— Noah Gray CNN (@NoahGrayCNN) March 12, 2016

Despite having covered Trump's campaign from the start, Deb was clearly struck by the clashes between supporters and protesters. He last tweeted:

I've never seen anything like what I'm witnessing in my life.

— Sopan Deb (@SopanDeb) March 12, 2016

Reporters have faced increasing difficulties covering Trump's often raucous events, given the campaign's severe restrictions on their movements. Organizers have at times forced them to remain in a "press pen" at events and faced hostility directed at them from the candidate and some supporters.

In January, Deb described how a Trump supporter accused him of being a member of ISIS.

This isn't first time this has happened. At last month's rally in Vegas, man came up to me to say "Go back to Iraq!" I've never been!

— Sopan Deb (@SopanDeb) January 10, 2016

Last month, a Secret Service agent choke-slammed Time magazine photographer Chris Morris after he left the pen to cover a Black Lives Matter protest.

On Friday, Breitbart News reporter Michelle Fields filed a police report related to Trump campaign manager Corey Lewandowski allegedly assaulting her after the candidate's Tuesday night press conference. The Trump campaign has dismissed the charge, despite an eyewitness account of the incident and video appearing to show Lewandowski reaching toward Fields.

Support Free Journalism

Consider supporting HuffPost starting at $2 to help us provide free, quality journalism that puts people first.

Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.

The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. Would you consider becoming a regular HuffPost contributor?

Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.

The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. We hope you'll consider contributing to HuffPost once more.

Support HuffPost

Before You Go

LOADINGERROR LOADING
Close

What's Hot