FC: Denver police deny Dick Cheney-hotel photographer was arrested

[Declan McCullagh <declan () well com>]

I know very little about this case -- just what you've seen on Politech, 
and I have not done any original reporting. But there seem to be some 
details we're missing that would buttress photographer Mike Maginnis' 
story. What were the names of the police officers allegedly involved? Who 
was the desk sergeant who allegedly hung up the phone? Why did Maginnis not 
want to talk to a reporter with the Rocky Mountain News a few days later? 
Without those details that would make the story more readily verifiable, 
it's much easier to accept the police response that Maginnis' story is not 
true.

Previous Politech message:

"Denver photographer arrested for photo'ing Dick Cheney's hotel?"
http://www.politechbot.com/p-04221.html

-Declan

---

From: SteelHead <bill () ries-knight net>
Organization: LinuxHelpers
To: declan () well com, politech () politechbot com
Subject: Fwd: RE: is this true? Biased Policing ?  ...regarding Maginnis 
and the Denver PD
Date: Wed, 11 Dec 2002 09:33:50 -0800
Cc: mrbillrk () yahoo com

I did a follow up with the Denver PD after reading the story.
I sent an emailo to the Lt. listed as in charge of the biased policing
section.

I make no comment except that the Officer wanted to verify my Identity before
investigating, I provided my real name and cell phone number.  He responded
in his reply with my office address and phone number as listed with my domain
registrar, but not the home address.

Regards,
Bill Ries-Knight

----------  Forwarded Message  ----------

Subject: RE: is this true? Biased Policing ?
Date: Wed, 11 Dec 2002 08:48:43 -0700
From: "Carter, Steven - DPD" <CarterS () ci denver co us>
To: "'bill () ries-knight net'" <bill () ries-knight net>

Mr. Bill Ries-Knight
2734 Pacific Ave
Stockton, ca 95204
US
209-951-0800

Dear sir;

Apparently the information you received is false.  The Secret Service has
flatly denied any such contact occurred.  Also, our PIO published the
following information:

I have received numerous inquiries regarding a male party identified as Mike
Maginnis.  This party is claiming that he was taken into custody as he was
photographing an area in which Vice President Cheney was visiting.  The
party also claimed that he was taken to police District One and was held for
6 hours until the Secret Service came to interview him.  I have done some
research and we have no record of anyone with this identity being contacted
and transported to District One.  This party is claiming this incident took
place on Tuesday, from my understanding the Vice President was in town on
Monday for three hours before departing.  District One had only four arrests
taken to the station all were processed between the hours of 1:15 a.m. and
5:30 a.m., and none of them were identified as Mike Maginnis.  It is also
the policy of the Denver police department that prisoners awaiting transport
are not allowed to make phone calls, this would dispute the statement by Mr.
Mike Maginnis that he was allowed to make a phone call and instead of
contacting a lawyer he called the Denver Post.  His staff would have also
advised the District One Commander if the Secret Service were interviewing
anyone at his district; he was not informed of any situation taking place.
Thank you for taking the time to verify the validity of this mans
accusations.

You may also refer to this story from the Denver Rocky Mountain News for
additional information
http://www.rockymountainnews.com/drmn/local/article/0,1299,DRMN_15_1601428,00.html

Lt. Steven W. Carter #80041
Denver Police Dept.
Office of the Chief of Police
(720) 913-6748 Work
(720) 913-7029 Fax
carters () ci denver co us Email

 -----Original Message-----
From:   SteelHead [mailto:bill () ries-knight net]
Sent:   Saturday, December 07, 2002 6:14 PM
To:     carters () ci denver co us
Cc:     mrbillrk () yahoo com
Subject:        is this true? Biased Policing ?

The following is Maginnis's account of what transpired:

As he was putting his camera away, Maginnis found himself confronted by a
Denver police officer who demanded that he hand over his film and camera.
When he refused to give up his Nikon F2, the officer pushed him to the
ground
and arrested him.

After being brought to the District 1 police station on Decatur Street,
Maginnis was made to wait alone in an interrogation room. Two hours later, a

Secret Service agent arrived, who identified himself as Special Agent
"Willse."

The agent told Maginnis that his "suspicious activities" made him a threat
to
national security, and that he would be charged as a terrorist under the
USA-PATRIOT act. The Secret Service agent tried to make Maginnis admit that
he was taking the photographs to analyze weaknesses in the Vice President's
security entourage and "cause terror and mayhem."

When Maginnis refused to admit to being any sort of terrorist, the Secret
Service agent called him a "raghead collaborator" and a "dirty pinko
faggot."

After approximately an hour of interrogation, Maginnis was allowed to make a

telephone call. Rather than contacting a lawyer, he called the Denver Post
and asked for the news desk. This was immediately overheard by the desk
sergeant, who hung up the phone and placed Maginnis in a holding cell.

Three hours later, Maginnis was finally released, but with no explanation.
He
received no copy of an arrest report, and no receipt for his confiscated
possessions. He was told that he would probably not get his camera back, as
it was being held as evidence.

Please advise as to the truth of this event

-------------------------------------------------------




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