Feb 4, 2009 7:38 pm US/Eastern
Trial For CBS 2 Cameraman Put In Chokehold By Cop
Jim Quodomine Arrested, Handcuffed, Put In Squad Car For An Hour After Filming Peaceful Protest Outside Church
Officer To Protesting Reporter: 'I Can Do Whatever I Want'
NEWARK (CBS) ―
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Family members of the victims killed by Newark gun violence marched in front of churches Sunday to ask the clergy for help. The march ended, however, when a Newark police officer put a CBS 2 photographer in chokehold, handcuffed him, and arrested him.
CBS
A CBS 2 cameraman has gone to trial after getting handcuffed while covering a peace march in October. Our crew was on a public street when the controversial confrontation with police happened.
There was another delay for CBS 2 News Photographer Jim Quodomine who came to court to fight a disorderly conduct charge slapped against him by the city of Newark after a police officer put him in a choke-hold and handcuffs as he covered the rally.
Video of the confrontation shows Quodomine was not breaking the law, as he was shooting on public property. On Tuesday, after a number of preliminary motions, the judge excused herself from the case, citing a conflict because she works for the city.
Quodomine's attorney, Bruce Rosen, says the case has taken too long to go to trial.
"Judges are busy. It must be that she didn't have the time or take the time to actually to sit down and look at the potential conflict," says Rosen.
CBS 2 brought the video and several witnesses to court today, but Quodomine will now have to wait until March 12 to play the video in court, this time for another judge.
An attorney representing Officer Brian Sharif, who has been suspended without pay, was also in court, he says to protect the officer's interest.
The Essex County prosecutor is investigating Sharif, but won't release the findings until the trial ends.
Neither Sharif nor his attorney would comment to CBS 2.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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