Minnesota State Patrol Arrests CNN Reporter Omar Jimenez Live on Air

Police arrest CNN correspondent Omar Jimenez and crew on live television — CNN

CNN

Minnesota State Patrol officers handcuffed the entire CNN crew without explanation despite the journalists repeatedly offering to relocate their live broadcast to comply with police orders.

AI-assisted summary of Police arrest CNN correspondent Omar Jimenez and crew on live television — original source. Check the original for full context.

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Key ideas

  • Minnesota State Patrol arrested CNN correspondent Omar Jimenez on live television while he was covering unrest in Minneapolis following the death of George Floyd. (0:00)
  • Jimenez clearly identified his news crew and repeatedly offered to move wherever directed, but was handcuffed without receiving an explanation for his detention. (0:00)
  • The detention expanded immediately to Jimenez's field producer and photojournalist, both of whom were placed in handcuffs while the live broadcast continued. (2:30)
  • State troopers handled and set down the television camera unaware that it remained active, leaving the live feed running from the pavement. (5:00)

Detailed notes

## Background Published by CNN on YouTube on May 29, 2020, this video documents the live arrest of CNN correspondent Omar Jimenez and his crew during unrest in Minneapolis following the death of George Floyd. According to the description, Jimenez and his team were placed in handcuffs and taken into police custody despite clearly identifying themselves to officers.

## TL;DR While reporting live from the streets of Minneapolis, CNN correspondent Omar Jimenez calmly identifies his four-person team to advancing Minnesota State Patrol officers and offers to move to any designated area. Without providing a justification, officers place Jimenez in handcuffs and lead him away on live air as his visible press credentials hang from his neck. Troopers then detain Jimenez's producer and photojournalist, leaving their camera abandoned on the ground where it continues broadcasting live footage of the street and passing police boots. In the studio, anchors Alisyn Camerota and John Berman express profound shock and disbelief, emphasizing that the crew had fully cooperated with law enforcement and that such actions against working journalists are unprecedented.

## Atmosphere & style The broadcast carries a surreal, tense, and chilling atmosphere marked by a jarring contrast between Jimenez's unfailingly polite, composed compliance and the silent, mechanical escalation of the state troopers. In the studio, the anchors shift from polished breaking news narration to palpable bewilderment and concern, openly struggling to process an arrest unfolding on their own airwaves. The experience turns distinctly eerie when the camera is seized and set down on the pavement, leaving viewers stranded in a low-angle shot of marching boots and ambient law enforcement radio chatter.

## Bulletin - [00:00](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ftLzQefpBvM&t=0s) Minnesota State Patrol arrested CNN correspondent Omar Jimenez on live television while he was covering unrest in Minneapolis following the death of George Floyd. - [00:00](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ftLzQefpBvM&t=0s) Jimenez clearly identified his news crew and repeatedly offered to move wherever directed, but was handcuffed without receiving an explanation for his detention. - [02:30](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ftLzQefpBvM&t=150s) The detention expanded immediately to Jimenez's field producer and photojournalist, both of whom were placed in handcuffs while the live broadcast continued. - [05:00](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ftLzQefpBvM&t=300s) State troopers handled and set down the television camera unaware that it remained active, leaving the live feed running from the pavement.

## Key takeaways - [00:00](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ftLzQefpBvM&t=0s) Omar Jimenez reported live from a Minneapolis intersection during protests over the death of George Floyd as law enforcement moved in to secure the area. - [00:00](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ftLzQefpBvM&t=0s) Jimenez proactively and calmly engaged approaching Minnesota State Patrol officers, offering to relocate the broadcast anywhere law enforcement preferred. - [00:00](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ftLzQefpBvM&t=0s) Jimenez identified his four-member crew—comprising himself, a producer, a photojournalist, and a security guard—as a unified working press team. - [00:00](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ftLzQefpBvM&t=0s) While explaining on air that police and firefighters were responding to a nearby fire, troopers stepped into Jimenez's space and declared him under arrest. - [00:00](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ftLzQefpBvM&t=0s) Jimenez repeatedly asked why he was being placed under arrest, but officers led him away in handcuffs with his press credentials visibly displayed and provided no reason. - [02:30](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ftLzQefpBvM&t=150s) CNN studio anchors Alisyn Camerota and John Berman expressed immediate shock, emphasizing that Jimenez had complied fully with law enforcement. - [02:30](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ftLzQefpBvM&t=150s) Audio from the street captured the photojournalist and producer attempting to de-escalate, telling officers they were simply doing their jobs and ready to move. - [02:30](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ftLzQefpBvM&t=150s) State troopers proceeded to detain the CNN producer and photojournalist sequentially, taking both into custody on live television. - [02:30](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ftLzQefpBvM&t=150s) The photojournalist kept the camera rolling and documented the crew's detention until officers instructed him to place the camera down. - [05:00](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ftLzQefpBvM&t=300s) Anchor John Berman remarked that in his entire career covering civil unrest, he had never witnessed an accredited, compliant news crew arrested on air. - [05:00](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ftLzQefpBvM&t=300s) An officer picked up and relocated the camera without realizing the lens and transmitter were actively broadcasting to millions of viewers. - [05:00](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ftLzQefpBvM&t=300s) The broadcast remained on the air from ground level, showing the street pavement and the boots of passing officers after the entire crew was removed.

## Detailed walkthrough ### [00:00](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ftLzQefpBvM&t=0s) Live Report Interrupted and Omar Jimenez Arrested

While reporting live on the streets of Minneapolis during the unrest following the death of George Floyd, CNN anchor Alisyn Camerota emphasizes the importance of not losing sight of the underlying reasons why people are out protesting and why violence erupted. Behind correspondent Omar Jimenez, a heavy law enforcement presence materializes, prompting the anchors to note action unfolding right in his vicinity. Jimenez confirms that police are arresting someone nearby and steps aside to engage directly with the approaching Minnesota State Patrol officers. Jimenez maintains a polite, calm, and cooperative tone, assuring law enforcement that the crew will comply with whatever directions they are given: “We can move back to where you'd like here. We are live on the air at the moment.” He introduces his four-person team—himself as the reporter, his producer, a photojournalist, and their security guard—stressing that they operate as a unified unit and will relocate anywhere requested to stay clear of the advancing perimeter.

Jimenez briefly resumes his live report, explaining that the surging police presence arrived within minutes alongside the fire department to address a burning commercial structure shown earlier. He describes how the state patrol unit advanced up the street, scattering demonstrators to clear the intersection. Suddenly, officers step directly into Jimenez’s space. An officer informs him that he is being detained, saying simply, “You're under arrest.” Jimenez remains composed, complying physically while asking for clarification: “Do you mind telling me why I'm under arrest, sir? Why am I under arrest?” Rather than receiving an explanation, his hands behind his back, Jimenez is led away into police custody on live television while his credentials hang visibly from his neck.

- Omar Jimenez explicitly identifies his four-member news team (reporter, producer, photojournalist, and security guard) to officers before the arrest. - Jimenez asks twice for the reason behind his arrest, but officers offer no immediate justification on camera. - The unit advancing up the Minneapolis intersection is identified as Minnesota State Patrol responding alongside the local fire department.

[02:30](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ftLzQefpBvM&t=150s) Studio Reaction and Handcuffing of the Remaining CNN Crew

Back in the studio, co-anchors Alisyn Camerota and John Berman react with astonishment as they watch their colleague being escorted away. Berman urges viewers and the control room to listen closely to the officers' audio, pointing out that Jimenez did everything by the book: “He was respectfully explaining to the state police that our CNN team was there and moving away as they would request, and then for some reason, he was just taken into police custody live on television.” The anchors seek to understand what will happen to the rest of the field crew who are still broadcasting from the pavement.

```mermaid flowchart TD accTitle: Sequence of CNN Crew Arrests accDescr: Timeline showing the arrest of Omar Jimenez followed by his producer and photojournalist while the camera remains live.

subgraph Relocation["Cooperation Attempt"] A["Crew identifies themselves as CNN press"] --> B["Jimenez offers to move to any designated area"] end

subgraph Arrests["Police Action"] B --> C["Omar Jimenez handcuffed & led away"] C --> D["CNN producer detained"] D --> E["Photojournalist arrested while filming"] end

subgraph Aftermath["Live Broadcast Continues"] E --> F["Camera set on ground, left running live"] end ```

The live audio from Minneapolis captures the remainder of the field team speaking to the surrounding officers. The photojournalist and producer explain that they were simply documenting the street closures and emphasize their willingness to clear the area, remarking, “We're just out here doing our job as well as you are.” Nevertheless, troopers move in on them as well. The photojournalist narrates in real time that the producer is being placed in zip-ties or handcuffs and that his own detention is imminent. When told he is also under arrest, he states that he must place the television camera down. Berman cuts back in, processing the unprecedented sight unfolding on screen: “Our CNN camera crew and our producer are being arrested right now on live television in handcuffs. I've never seen anything like this.”

- Alisyn Camerota and John Berman monitor the arrests live from the anchor desk, expressing shock at the lack of cause. - The CNN producer and photojournalist are handcuffed in sequence immediately following Jimenez's arrest. - The photojournalist keeps the broadcast live until the final moment an officer commands him to put the equipment down.

[05:00](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ftLzQefpBvM&t=300s) Camera Abandoned Rolling on the Ground as Anchors Express Shock

With the entire CNN crew placed in custody, the camera is picked up by a state police officer who appears completely unaware that the lens and transmitter are still actively broadcasting live to millions of viewers. The feed tilts toward the street and pavement before being set down on the ground, continuing to capture ambient law enforcement chatter and the feet of passing officers. Berman reiterates the complete absence of any explanation or order violation, stating that the journalists were standing precisely where they had previously been directed to stand and were completely out of the way of police operations.

Reflecting on his own extensive career covering civil unrest, Berman highlights how extraordinary and improper the detentions appear: “And just to be clear, Alison, having been in the middle of protests like this, I've never seen anything like this.” Berman underscores that Jimenez was in the middle of describing how law enforcement had successfully dispersed crowds and restored order to the street when police decided to detain him. Even with the journalists stripped of their freedom and led off in handcuffs, the camera remains grounded on the Minneapolis pavement, still transmitting live pictures back to the network.

- The television camera is carried by Minnesota State Patrol officers unaware that the live broadcast feed remains active. - Studio anchors confirm that members of the press are legally entitled to cover public civil unrest and that the team had adhered strictly to police instructions. - The broadcast remains live from the ground-level camera angle, documenting the empty street and law enforcement boots surrounding the scene.

## Mentioned Alisyn Camerota, CNN, George Floyd, John Berman, Minneapolis, Minnesota State Patrol, Omar Jimenez

## Video description CNN's Omar Jimenez was taken into police custody during a live broadcast at the site of the protests in Minneapolis, after clearly identifying himself to officers. Jimenez's crew were also placed in handcuffs. #Floyd #OmarJimenez #CNN

[Source](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ftLzQefpBvM)

中文简报

明尼苏达州巡警在直播中逮捕CNN记者奥马尔·希门尼斯 尽管记者们多次表示愿意转移直播地点以服从警方命令，明尼苏达州巡警仍在未做任何解释的情况下给CNN全组人员戴上了手铐。 CNN记者奥马尔·希门尼斯在明尼阿波利斯街头进行现场直播报道时，平静地向不断逼近的明尼苏达州巡警表明了其四人团队的身份，并表示愿意转移至任何指定的区域。在未给出任何正当理由的情况下，警员们在直播画面中将希门尼斯戴上手铐并带走，当时他脖子上挂着清晰可见的记者证。随后，巡警又扣押了希门尼斯的制片人和摄影记者，将其摄像机遗弃在地面上，而摄像机仍继续直播街面和走过的警察靴子的实时画面。在演播室中，主播艾莉森·卡梅罗塔和约翰·伯曼表达了极度的震惊与难以置信，强调该团队完全配合了执法部门的工作，并且针对在职记者的此类行为是史无前例的。 明尼苏达州巡警在电视直播中逮捕了CNN记者奥马尔·希门尼斯，当时他正在明尼阿波利斯报道乔治·弗洛伊德之死引发的骚乱。 (0:00) 希门尼斯明确表明了其新闻报道组的身份，并多次表示愿意按指示转移到任何地方，但未得到任何扣押理由便被戴上手铐。 (0:00) 拘留范围随即扩大至希门尼斯的外景制片人和摄影记者，两人都在直播持续进行时被戴上了手铐。 (2:30) 州巡警在不知道摄像机仍处于工作状态的情况下触碰并放下了摄像机，任由其实时画面从人行道上继续直播。 (5:00)

Reading summary

While reporting live on civil unrest in Minneapolis, CNN correspondent Omar Jimenez and his news crew were arrested by the Minnesota State Patrol despite explicitly identifying themselves as journalists and offering full compliance with law enforcement directions. Cooperative Posture and Jimenez's Unexplained Arrest (0:00) During live coverage of the protests following the death of George Floyd, Minnesota State Patrol officers advanced to clear an intersection near a burning commercial structure. As the perimeter moved toward his position, correspondent Omar Jimenez proactively engaged the approaching officers, calmly identifying his four-person team—consisting of himself, a producer, a photojournalist, and a security guard. Jimenez emphasized that the crew would readily relocate to any designated position the police preferred in order to stay clear of operations while remaining on the air. Despite this compliance and visible press credentials hanging from his neck, officers stepped directly into Jimenez's space and declared him under arrest. Jimenez complied physically without resistance, twice asking officers why he was being detained. The arresting officers provided no immediate justification on camera, leading Jimenez away in custody on live television. Detention of the Photojournalist and Producer (2:30) Following Jimenez's removal, Minnesota State Patrol troopers moved in on the remaining members of the CNN field crew. Live audio captured the producer and photojournalist explaining to surrounding officers that they were merely documenting the street closures and were prepared to clear the area as instructed. These explanations were disregarded, and officers placed both the producer and the photojournalist into restraints. The photojournalist narrated the sequence in real time as his colleague was placed in handcuffs or zip-ties, continuing to film until officers commanded him to place the camera down on the street. Studio Reaction and Uninterrupted Ground Broadcast (5:00) After the crew was taken into custody, an officer moved the camera, seemingly unaware that the equipment was actively broadcasting to viewers nationwide. Left rolling on the pavement, the camera continued to transmit live footage showing passing law enforcement boots and ambient police chatter from the empty street. In the studio, co-anchors Alisyn Camerota and John Berman expressed shock at the scene, with Berman remarking that he had never witnessed working journalists arrested in such a manner throughout his career covering civil unrest. The anchors emphasized that the crew had followed instructions, positioned themselves away from police maneuvers, and possessed the legal right as press to cover the public unrest. The broadcast concluded with the CNN crew detained without any on-camera reason given by the Minnesota State Patrol, leaving the network's abandoned camera to transmit live pictures from the ground.

精炼阅读摘要

CNN记者Omar Jimenez及其摄制团队在明尼阿波利斯直播乔治·弗洛伊德（George Floyd）抗议现场时，在主动亮明身份且明确配合警方调遣的情况下，无预警遭到明尼苏达州巡警逮捕；演播室主播对此举表达强烈震惊，强调该团队完全遵守执法指令，此类针对合法采访记者的拘押前所未见。 主动配合指令与无端现场拘留 (0:00) 在报道明尼阿波利斯因乔治·弗洛伊德之死引发的抗议与骚乱期间，CNN记者Omar Jimenez在警力迅速逼近时采取了高度配合的态度。Jimenez主动向迎面而来的明尼苏达州巡警（Minnesota State Patrol）表明身份，详细介绍了包括记者本人、制片人、摄影记者与安保人员在内的四人团队，并明确表示他们正处于电视直播状态，愿意按照警方的任何要求退至指定区域，以避免妨碍执法清场行动。尽管Jimenez胸前清晰佩戴着媒体证件，且在镜头前向公众解释巡警是配合消防部门处置火情并疏散示威人群，巡警仍直接踏入其报道区域并宣布对其施行拘留。Jimenez在人身受限时保持镇静并严格服从命令，同时两次礼貌询问被捕缘由。然而，现场执法人员在数百万电视观众面前自始至终未给出任何解释，直接将其双手背拷后押解离开现场。 报道团队全员被捕与设备持续直播 (2:30) 在Jimenez被拘捕后，警方的强制措施迅速扩大至现场滞留的其余CNN团队成员。制片人与摄影记者在与警员交涉时重申，媒体仅仅是在履行记录街道封闭与执法过程的本职工作，并强调愿意配合撤离，但多名巡警仍执意上前抓捕。摄影记者通过实时音视频镜头向演播室直播了现场状况，记录下制片人被施以塑料束带或手铐拘禁，并随即向观众通报自己也将被捕，按警方要求不得不将设备置于地面。报道团队全员被带离后，一名明尼苏达州巡警在未察觉发射机和镜头仍处于直播状态的情况下捡起摄像机，随后将其弃置于地面。摄像机镜头持续向电视网络传输倾斜的街道、执法人员往来的战术靴以及现场背景交谈声，在没有记者操作的情况下全程记录了团队被逐出报道岗位的现场环境。 演播室震惊反响与执法正当性质疑 (5:00) CNN演播室主播Alisyn Camerota与John Berman目睹现场画面后表达了极大震惊。Berman呼吁观众和导播团队仔细调听现场拾音，明确指出Jimenez的一切举动完全遵循专业规范，不仅全程礼貌地向州巡警说明情况，而且严格驻守在先前被允许停留的安全位置，完全未对执法行动构成任何干涉或阻碍。结合自身长期报道民事骚乱的职业经历，Berman指出此类逮捕不仅缺乏合法理由，更具有极大的不合理性。主播特别强调，Jimenez被捕时恰恰在陈述警方如何成功恢复街区秩序，而宪法赋予了新闻媒体在公共区域报道民事骚乱的合法权利。在记者严格服从指挥且毫无违规的情况下直接拘留采访团队，引发了演播室对现场执法规范与媒体自由界限的严重关切。 现场音视频证据确认CNN团队在佩戴清晰证件且充分配合的情况下遭遇全员逮捕，但截至直播阶段，现场执法人员未提供任何指控依据与逮捕解释，官方事由仍属未知。

Original transcript

[0:00] - What I wanna make sure is not lost, in this as we're seeing these remarkable pictures with this law enforcement presence directly behind you. is the why. Why? people have been out on the streets protesting why this violence is taking place. There is some action behind you. Hang on. Yep. We've got one person being arrested here. We've got, we're meeting, yep, we're good. Yep. Hold on. I got you. I got you. Hold on. Hold on. They had us here. They had us here. We're speaking with State Patrol right now. Give us a second, guys. We can move back to where you'd like. We can move back to where you'd like here. We are live on the air at the moment. He is my reporter. He is our security guard. This is the four of us. We are one team. Just put us put us back where you want us. We are getting out of your way. So. Just let us know. Thank you. Thank you. Wherever you'd want us, we will go. We were just getting out of your way when you were advancing through the intersection. So, Just let us know and we got you. Thank you. And this is a scene here playing out in Minneapolis. part of the advanced police presence that we saw come over the course of of really minutes when the local police showed up, at the fire department or with the fire department, I should say, on that building. We showed you that was burning. This is among the state patrol unit that was advancing up the street, Same. and scattering the protesters at that point for people to clear the area, And so we walked away. I'm sorry. You're under arrest. Okay. Do you mind telling me why I'm under arrest, sir? Why am I under arrest? If you're just tuning in, you are watching our correspondent, Omar Jimenez, being arrested by state police. in Minnesota. We're not sure why our correspondent is being arrested. Hang on one second, Alison, let's listen in to what these officers are saying. That is an American television reporter, Omar Jimenez, being led away. by police officers. He clearly identified himself. as a reporter. He was respectfully explaining to the state police that our CNN team was there and moving away as they would request and then for some reason, He was just taken in. to police custody. live on television. I'm sorry, I did not mean to interrupt you, Alison. I just wanted to hear, listen to see if we could hear more from the officers, the state police, as this is going on. Yeah. We're trying to see what's gonna happen, John, obviously to the rest. - I'm about to guys, We were just out here reporting the closure of the streets. Omar was just arrested. I believe they're about to -- we're all about to be arrested. Our producer. Do we have to do that? Our CNN producer is being-- - I'm probably gonna be taken in a minute. Our CNN camera crew and our producer are being arrested right now on live television in handcuffs. I've never seen anything like this. Allison. We're just passing along the message, your message. I'm done. We're just out here doing our job as well as you are. We can do that. Can you tell me what? Are you under arrest? I'm being arrested now. I got to put the camera down. If you're just tuning in, this is our camera crew, our CNN camera crew being arrested by the Minneapolis State Police, we believe. are corresponding to the [5:00] Omar Jimenez was also led away in handcuffs, as was his producer. They were standing where they were told to stand previously by police. They were out of the way. We don't know why they're being arrested. They're not being given any explanation as far as we can hear for why they're being arrested. We don't know why they're being handcuffed and led away. They are allowed to be reporting on the unrest that's happening right now. for some reason, the state police have decided that they need to be under arrest. And just to be clear, Allison, having been in the middle of protests like this, I've never seen anything like this. I have never seen anything like this. The camera is being walked away now. I don't know if this camera is still in the hands of our photojournalist or whether the police officer, yeah, this is the police carrying our camera right now, frankly, not aware that it's still rolling. We have been listening in and our team there has not been given any explanation for why they have been taken into custody. And I just want to be clear, if you were watching what Omar was saying and listening to his reporting, he was explaining what had happened over the last few hours and how law enforcement was arriving on the scene and how they had dispersed the crowds largely and how for the first time there was order in the scene. Nevertheless, taken into custody, our camera now on the ground, still rolling, still capturing these live images.