CNN Reporter Arrested Live On Air Covering Minneapolis Protests

MINNEAPOLIS — CNN correspondent Omar Jimenez was arrested by the Minnesota State Patrol in Minneapolis on Friday morning while his camera crew was rolling live. Jimenez was covering the devastation from the riots that broke out after the death of George Floyd.

Members of Jimenez's camera crew were also put into handcuffs, reports CNN. It's not yet clear why they were taken into custody.

"If you're just tuning in, you are watching our correspondent, Omar Jimenez, being arrested by state police in Minnesota," anchor Alisyn Camerota, clearly shocked by the situation, said in studio while the arrest was taking place live.

"We're not sure why our correspondent is being arrested."

The news station called on Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz to release their employees "immediately." After the arrest, Walz apologized to CNN President Jeff Zucker.

Jimenez and his crew have since been released. The state patrol said they were let go once they were confirmed to be members of the media.

However, CNN disputes the state patrol's account of the arrest and says it was a violation of the First Amendment.

The Minnesota State Patrol was immediately criticized for the arrest, with media members suspecting that it was racially motivated. Jimenez is black and Latino. "I was treated much differently than (Jimenez) was," CNN correspondent Josh Campbell, who is white and also covering the riots in Minneapolis, told his network.

This is developing news story. Stay with Patch as more information is available.