CNN national correspondent Jason Carroll was detained by Los Angeles Police Department officers during a live television broadcast on Monday night, June 10, while covering anti-immigration enforcement protests in the city. The incident occurred as Carroll was reporting from a protest zone where police were attempting to clear demonstrators who had defied orders to disperse.
The detention unfolded live on air during anchor Laura Coates’ 11 p.m. broadcast as viewers watched Carroll being led away by officers with his hands behind his back. “I am being detained,” Carroll stated as the situation developed on camera. Coates immediately responded to the unfolding scene, asking what was happening as she lost contact with her correspondent in the field.
Carroll later explained the circumstances of his detention to viewers after being released. He indicated that he had approached an officer to identify himself as a CNN journalist when he was instructed to turn around and place his hands behind his back. The correspondent clarified that while officers grabbed both his hands and escorted him away, he was not placed in zip ties during the detention process.
Police officers informed Carroll that he was being removed from the area and would not be permitted to return. One officer told him that if he came back to the restricted zone, he would face arrest. The LAPD released Carroll after he was escorted behind their established perimeter, with the entire incident lasting only a brief period.
The detention occurred amid ongoing protests in Los Angeles against federal immigration enforcement operations. The demonstrations began on Friday and continued for multiple nights, prompting President Donald Trump to deploy 2,000 National Guard troops initially, followed by an additional 2,000 guardsmen and active-duty Marines on Monday to restore order in the city.
Carroll expressed surprise at his treatment by law enforcement, noting that he had been reporting from the streets throughout the day without incident. The veteran correspondent indicated that he typically encounters officers who recognize the press is performing their professional duties. He characterized the detention as a low-level risk compared to other situations journalists face while covering protests.
CNN issued an official statement addressing the incident involving their reporting team. The network confirmed that Carroll and his crew were briefly detained while documenting events as police attempted to clear the protest area. CNN expressed satisfaction that the situation was resolved quickly once their team presented law enforcement credentials to officers.
According to reports from Deadline, two members of Carroll’s camera crew were also arrested during the incident, though they were later released without charges. The network stated it would continue reporting on developments in Los Angeles despite the temporary detention of its personnel.
Carroll is not the only journalist who has encountered difficulties while covering the Los Angeles protests. Lauren Tomasi, a correspondent for Australia’s 9News, was struck by a rubber bullet on Sunday while reporting live from the scene. British photojournalist Nick Stern required emergency surgery after being hit in the thigh with a plastic bullet during the weekend clashes.
A coalition of 27 press and civil liberties organizations wrote to Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem expressing alarm over potential First Amendment violations against journalists covering the protests. The Los Angeles Press Club, First Amendment Coalition, and Freedom of the Press Foundation led the effort, documenting at least 24 instances of journalists being targeted by law enforcement between June 6-8.
The protests stem from opposition to Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations in Los Angeles County, which maintains sanctuary policies and declines to participate in federal civil immigration actions. Some isolated incidents of violence and looting have occurred during the demonstrations, prompting the federal military response.
California Governor Gavin Newsom has opposed the federal troop deployment, calling it an illegal use of military forces on American streets. Newsom announced plans to sue the Trump administration and demanded the withdrawal of federal troops from Los Angeles, characterizing the deployment as a blatant abuse of power that crosses constitutional red lines.
The incident involving Carroll highlights ongoing tensions between law enforcement and media personnel covering civil unrest. Multiple journalists have reported being shot with less-than-lethal munitions while documenting the Los Angeles protests, raising concerns about press freedom and safety during breaking news coverage of controversial events.
