Arrested journalist covering Ohio train derailment was 'just trying to do my job'

A journalist for NewsNation television station was arrested Wednesday in East Palestine, Ohio after a press conference about lifting evacuation orders related to a damaging train derailment.

The correspondent, Evan Lambert, was recording a live broadcast for NewsNation around 5 p.m. and was arrested by law enforcement officers after he was told by officers to stop speaking during Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine’s remarks, according to the station.

NewsNation said the news conference was scheduled for 3 p.m. but had been delayed, and DeWine eventually began speaking around 5 p.m., at the same time Lambert was scheduled to go live.

As Lambert was being placed in a squad car, he said, “It’s tough to do your job in America in 2023, but we’ll keep doing it.”

Lambert told NewsNation that he was arrested for “just trying to do my job.”

BREAKING: @EvanLambertTV, a DC-based correspondent for @NewsNation, has been in Ohio covering the train crash. He was doing a live shot in the back of the room during a press conference-was told to stop by police, was pushed to the ground, cuffed & arrested & put in a patrol car. pic.twitter.com/RZv6nT7j8o

— NewsNation PR (@NewsNationPR) February 8, 2023

According to CNN, the broadcast shows Lambert ended his live report abruptly as officers approached him.

“We’re actually being told we need to stop broadcasting because this news conference is behind us,” said Lambert, and then he quickly signed off the air.

The arrest came following a press conference where officials lifted evacuation orders for East Palestine and the surrounding area, including parts of Western Pennsylvania. A train derailed over the weekend in the town about 50 miles northwest of Pittsburgh, leading to explosions, fire, and the eventual controlled release of chemicals into the air.

Lambert has been charged with resisting arrest and criminal trespass, both misdemeanors, according to court records.

DeWine told NewsNation that he did not order the arrest and he expressed anxieties over it. The Ohio Republican said he has regularly allowed reporters to do live segments during his press conference and that journalists have the right to do so.

“If someone was stopped from doing that, or told they could not do that, that was wrong,” DeWine told NewsNation.

CNN reported the cell phone video shows several law enforcement officers confronting Lambert and trying to get him to leave the gym. The video shows two officers eventually grab Lambert by the arms and push him out of the gym and then put him on the ground and handcuff him. Lambert can be heard identifying himself as a reporter.

Lambert was initially detained in the Columbiana County Jail, but was later released.

“I’m doing fine right now. It’s been an extremely long day,” Lambert said after his release. “No journalist expects to be arrested when you’re doing your job, and I think that’s really important that that doesn’t happen in our country.”