Flux Rostrum, a video journalist whose works are often found at Mobile Broadcast News blog among other places was arrested with four environmental activists in West Virginia who were involved in a protest in which they had chained themselves together to form a road block in attempts to halt a mountaintop mining operation by the company Massey Energy. The arrest of the video reporters is very likely an illegal act in and of itself as the event certainly qualifies as news, and the Flux was acting within his rights.

Law enforcement attempted to stop Flux from videoing the event, taking place two days following a Massey-sponsored rally in support of the highly destructive coal mining practice.

After being told to turn hi camera off, Flux told a deputy that he was there as a reporter. In response, the deputy confiscated his camera and hand cuffed the video journalist. You can read his account here.

Law enforcement in West Virginia have incorrectly identified Flux as being one of the chained protesters, and have refused to amend the details in spite of overwhelming evidence that he was not involved in the action, but acting in the role of a reporter. Another potential reason for the video confiscation could be the harsh treatment visited on one the protesters, aged 81. Flux reported later that “The police [along with Massey security] then dragged the 4 protesters off of the road with the brunt of the force being exerted on the arm of the 81 year old.”