Judge: Student To Get Camera Back
A Washington State University student who filmed the end of a violent riot last weekend will get his camera and videotape back, a judge ordered Wednesday.
But the taped images of dozens of students partying, taunting and attacking police will remain at the Pullman Police Department, where public viewing of the footage will continue.
More than 100 people have been identified from video and still frames, Pullman police said late Wednesday. A riot task force has also set up a Web site so the public can help identify suspects over the Internet.
Whitman County Superior Court Judge Wallis Friel ordered police to return WSU student Forrest Reda’s original videotape and camera Wednesday, but also allowed the investigating team to make copies.
Reda, who claims he was man-handled when police seized his camera, wanted the tape back because it contains private taped material in addition to the riot coverage, his attorney Timothy Esser said. Friel did not rule on whether the camera was legally seized, a question Reda will have to settle in civil court.
Also Wednesday, WSU senior Jamie Allen Jackson was charged in Whitman County with one count of felony rioting with a deadly weapon, and two counts of felony assault on an officer. He is accused of injuring a Washington State Patrol trooper and a Whitman County deputy.
The confiscated video footage includes images of students chucking rocks and other objects at police during the end of a violent clash that injured 23 officers and several students.
Police are asking for the community’s help in identifying people seen on the tape committing crimes. The Pullman Police Department’s Web site is at www.pullman-wa.com/riot.
Of the 100 people identified, police know of 10 to 15 who committed serious crimes.
All names are being forwarded to WSU’s student affairs office, while those involved in criminal activity, such as arson and assault, will be handled by the task force.
The department is receiving cooperation from students and university officials, Pullman police Sgt. Sam Sorem said.
“If everyone who said they were going to come down does, we could have several hundred. We anticipate a very, very busy couple of days,” Sorem said.
Regional law enforcement agencies have offered detectives to help investigate the riot.
“There is a personal interest on the part of every law enforcement agency here, and it stretches across the state,” Sorem said.
The Washington State Patrol has also offered extra troopers to boost patrols for the remainder of the week leading up to Saturday’s graduation. The weekend riot did an estimated $20,000 damage, not including downtime from injured officers and salaries, Sorem said.
Washington State Patrol officials said damage to uniforms, vehicles and equipment totals $12,000. To view suspects in the WSU riot or provide investigative information, access the Pullman Police Department’s Web site at www.pullman-wa.com/riot.