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When a small-town Arizona cop stopped a 12-year-old reporter who was chasing down a story tip on Monday, he probably had no idea what he was getting himself into.
Hilde Kate Lysiak, the preteen journalist whose exploits have inspired a Scholastic book series and an upcoming TV show, made a name for herself in 2016 by being the first to report on a grisly murder in her hometown, then firing back at the haters who suggested that a 9-year-old girl shouldn't be hanging around crime scenes. Since then, she has continued to break news about bank robberies, alleged rapes and other lurid crimes in the Orange Street News, the paper that she publishes out of her parents' home in Selinsgrove, Pa.
"NOTE TO DEALERS: OSN Will Not Be Intimidated," she wrote last month, after reportedly receiving threats because she had published text message exchanges between an alleged drug dealer and a woman whom he had reportedly solicited for sex.
So naturally, she didn't back down when Joseph Patterson, the town marshal in Patagonia, Ariz., allegedly threatened to throw her in juvenile jail on Monday, then falsely claimed it would be illegal for her to film him and publish the video on the Internet. Instead, she posted their exchange on YouTube and in the Orange Street News — which in turn prompted town officials to discipline Patterson, as the Nogales International was the first to report on Wednesday.
[...] In the Orange Street News, Lysiak wrote that she was riding her bike to investigate a tip at around 1:30 p.m. on Monday when Patterson, whose position in the small town is equivalent to that of a police chief, stopped her and asked for identification. The 12-year-old gave her name and phone number and mentioned that she was a member of the media. She said Patterson told her, "I don't want to hear about any of that freedom-of-the-press stuff" and added that he would have her arrested and thrown in juvenile jail.
Later, Lysiak ran into Patterson again. This time, she was filming.
"You stopped me earlier and you said that I can be thrown in juvie," she can be heard asking in the video. "What exactly am I doing that's illegal?"
From the seat of his white Chevy Silverado truck, Patterson started to reply, then interrupted himself. "You taping me?" he asked. "You can tape me, okay, but what I'm going to tell you is if you put my face on the Internet, it's against the law in Arizona."
In fact, there is no such law. Recording a law enforcement officer in a public place is protected under the First Amendment, as Lysiak noted when she posted the video online later that day.
(Score: 5, Interesting) by Thexalon on Wednesday February 27 2019, @03:38PM (3 children)
This girl was 12-year-old, not 9-year-old.
But yes, that seems to be the "problem" with kids these days. Damn kids actually paying attention in civics class and knowing their constitutional rights, like the 11-year-old who got arrested for refusing to stand for the Pledge of Allegiance [usatoday.com]. What is this world coming to, when authoritarian adults can't abuse kids freely anymore?
The only thing that stops a bad guy with a compiler is a good guy with a compiler.
(Score: 3, Interesting) by Pslytely Psycho on Wednesday February 27 2019, @04:32PM (1 child)
Yeah, saw the age error on the age the moment I hit submit. Damn Craft Beer.....
I have no idea where the wrong age came from.
In answer to your question, perhaps a classic....
Revolution in their minds the children start to march
Against the world in which they have to live
And all the hate that's in their hearts
They're tired of being pushed around
And told just what to do
They'll fight the world until they've won
And love comes flowing through, yeah
Children of tomorrow live in the tears that fall today
Will the sun rise up tomorrow bringing peace in any way?
Must the world live in the shadow of atomic fear?
Can they win the fight for peace or will they disappear, yeah
So you children of the world
Listen to what I say
If you want a better place to live in
Spread the words today
Show the world that love is still alive you must be brave
Or you children of today are children of the grave, yeah
Songwriters: Frank Iommi / John Osbourne / Terence Butler / W.T. Ward
Children of the Grave lyrics © T.R.O. Inc.
Alex Jones lawyer inspires new TV series: CSI Moron Division.
(Score: 3, Informative) by DeathMonkey on Wednesday February 27 2019, @07:44PM
She was nine when she began her illustrious journalism career.
(Score: 3, Informative) by PinkyGigglebrain on Wednesday February 27 2019, @06:26PM
Looks like the "9 year old" comment is what someone said about her in 2016 when she was investigating a murder.
"Beware those who would deny you Knowledge, For in their hearts they dream themselves your Master."