Louisiana TV reporter arrested after trying to obtain city records

[Devin]

WHITE CASTLE — WBRZ-TV reporter Chris Nakamoto was handcuffed and detained Wednesday and issued a misdemeanor summons after he was accused of harassing the town clerk and refusing to leave town hall when asked by local police.

But the reporter’s boss defended his actions and said Nakamoto was just doing his job by trying to hold public officials accountable.

The town’s clerk, Monica Hamilton, summoned White Castle police officers to Town Hall Wednesday morning, telling police Nakamoto was causing a disturbance, according to Town Attorney Valencia Vessel-Landry.

The incident took place in the lobby after Hamilton refused to be interviewed by Nakamoto on camera for a story the reporter was working on concerning the mayor’s pay and recent public records requests he filed, Vessel-Landry said.

“She told him she didn’t want to be on camera and she asked him to stop filming,” Vessel-Landry said. “He said ‘no’ so she ran to the back and he attempted to come into a restricted area to get to her. That’s when she called the police.”

Nakamoto was removed and issued a summons for allegedly “remaining after being forbidden” after police arrived on the scene and he refused their requests to leave, Vessel-Landry said.

Video: WBRZ reporter Chris Nakamoto detained, accused of refusing to leave White Castle town hall

 

[TheSportsPredictor]

Dude's having fun. He knows he just made his career.

 

[tapintoamerica]

Looks very calculated.

 

[Batman]

I'm all for the watchdog aspect of journalism and those that have the stomach and patience to dig deep for investigative pieces, but there's good ways and bad ways to do it. Harassing the clerk at the records desk in a small town is not going to get you anywhere. That's the person you want to schmooze.
Plus, I guarantee you when the cops showed up he pulled out the "DO YOU KNOW WHO I AM!? THE PEOPLE HAVE A RIGHT TO KNOW!" line. He has that look about him.

 

[cranberry]

Memo to TV reporter: Nobody is obligated to go on camera with you.

 

[Steak Snabler]

So he went to White Castle and he got thrown out?

[/beastieboys]

 

[Neutral Corner]

OTOH he just put the records requests on a very hot front burner.

 

[Ace]

Even if he gets the records and asks for no onions, they'll still smell like onions.

 

[Shropshire Slasher]

He went to White Castle Wednesday morning. I know where he was Thursday morning.

 

[exmediahack]

Memo to TV reporter: Nobody is obligated to go on camera with you.

That's the difference between a good reporter who wants to stay in the city he or she works in and a good reporter who doesn't give a damn who he pissed off in the city he or she currently lives in.

I've had uncomfortable investigative stories where people don't want to talk on camera. I'll ask twice and offer a warning that I include it in the story if they, as a public official, won't talk with us. Yet I'll never play the ambush card. It is not dignified. My rep is important -- even on a negative story, I won't go out of my way to humiliate a subject.

Yet about half the TV newsrooms out there will eat this up. This reporter will be in Atlanta or Houston by Memorial Day.

 

[Riptide]

That's the difference between a good reporter who wants to stay in the city he or she works in and a good reporter who doesn't give a damn who he pissed off in the city he or she currently lives in.

I've had uncomfortable investigative stories where people don't want to talk on camera. I'll ask twice and offer a warning that I include it in the story if they, as a public official, won't talk with us. Yet I'll never play the ambush card. It is not dignified. My rep is important -- even on a negative story, I won't go out of my way to humiliate a subject.

Yet about half the TV newsrooms out there will eat this up. This reporter will be in Atlanta or Houston by Memorial Day.

I like your position, but Mike Wallace is spinning in his grave.

 

[exmediahack]

Mike Wallace had the brand of 60 Minutes and CBS behind him. He could swoop in with his army of producers, make the big takedown and swoop away, never to return. No consequences.

I'm a local schmoe who has to live in the city of the police department I investigate, to have my kids educated by the schools I dig into. If I'm seen as a guy who has an agenda when I report, my rep in town is garbage.

 

[Riptide]

Mike Wallace had the brand of 60 Minutes and CBS behind him. He could swoop in with his army of producers, make the big takedown and swoop away, never to return. No consequences.

I'm a local schmoe who has to live in the city of the police department I investigate, to have my kids educated by the schools I dig into. If I'm seen as a guy who has an agenda when I report, my rep in town is garbage.

That was more of a dig at Mike Wallace. He had a lot of Cosell in him.

 

[PCLoadLetter]

That's the difference between a good reporter who wants to stay in the city he or she works in and a good reporter who doesn't give a damn who he pissed off in the city he or she currently lives in.

I've had uncomfortable investigative stories where people don't want to talk on camera. I'll ask twice and offer a warning that I include it in the story if they, as a public official, won't talk with us. Yet I'll never play the ambush card. It is not dignified. My rep is important -- even on a negative story, I won't go out of my way to humiliate a subject.

Yet about half the TV newsrooms out there will eat this up. This reporter will be in Atlanta or Houston by Memorial Day.

Completely disagree with this.

The ambush should never be the first option, and some young reporters don't get that. But if it's an important story and you're getting stonewalled? **** 'em. There's nothing undignified about demanding answers from someone trying to dodge you, if the story is important.

If you're doing the work of a journalist, you're going to **** off people in power. It's just part of the gig.

 

[exmediahack]

Completely disagree with this.

The ambush should never be the first option, and some young reporters don't get that. But if it's an important story and you're getting stonewalled? **** 'em. There's nothing undignified about demanding answers from someone trying to dodge you, if the story is important.

If you're doing the work of a journalist, you're going to **** off people in power. It's just part of the gig.

Not saying you don't get the answers and broadcast that they're ducking you.

The gig is to investigate, report and get answers. Manufacturing theatrics I will leave to the others. If it happens during the interview, great.

 

[Shropshire Slasher]

Guy's lucky he isn't alligator food right now.

 

[Evil ... Thy name is Orville Redenbacher!!]

Sic 'Em!

Previously, WBRZ and WBRZ.com have reported documents obtained by the Investigative Unit indicated that during the week of April 6 until April 19, 2015, Mayor Jermarr Williams earned $20.31 per hour. That's about $40,000 per year. Later, from November 16 thru the 29th, check registers indicated his salary increased to $24.44; about $51,000. That hourly rate equates to almost a 20 percent raise. WBRZ is told any increase to the mayor's salary needs to be done by ordinance and the records request was set to show when an ordinance was approved by city council members for the new salary.
Last year, citizens of White Castle sued, claiming Williams and the town clerk refused to produce public records they requested. Friday, a judge ordered the town to produce the records and required the town to pay fees associated with the citizens' lawsuit.
The White Castle Police chief was unavailable for comment. Calls to the mayor's office have not been returned.
"WBRZ stands by Chief Investigator Chris Nakamoto," Director of News Lee Polowczuk, said in a statement. "That’s first and foremost. The public expects this news organization to ask tough questions and hold the powerful accountable. Our reporters are not going to be intimidated by public officials when we are getting you answers. Station management is looking into all legal remedies regarding this incident."