Did Nashville Station Cross the Line in Hostage Situation?

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WZTV in Nashville became part of the story as they helped police end a hostage situation. 

Douglas Roach went into the Community First Bank & Trust and took hostages.

While he was inside the bank he was talking to the police and to the TV station. 

Roach told the station that he wanted to share his story of alleged betrayal that had left him homeless and despondent. Roach says his intentions had nothing to do with robbery or hurting people. His intention was to shed light on what led him here.

Armed with a machete, Roach entered the bank around 2:45and 9 hours later he came out after police told him he could talk to WZTV.

Here is part of the text messages he exchanged with the station:

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But, the Nashville station handed their gear over to police officers and let them pose as a TV crew. He was taken into custody just before midnight.

Of course, this is a slippery slope when TV stations become part of the long arm of the law. 

This kind of action by TV stations has been debated for years and it will continue to be after this. 

Would your station hand over your equipment to cops and let them posed as a TV crew using your gear? 

We have opened up the comment box below to give your take. Was the station right in what they did? Or did they cross the line when they became part of law enforcement? 

Leave your comment below, please be respectful and stay on topic. 

Comments

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Rusty · Sept 26, 2017

I dunno, it may have saved lives, not only the hostages, but the suspect himself. It wasn't a sting operation, or an set up by the police or tv station. I may have done it, but not said anything about it. I think the problem is, the station had to brag about it. If no one knew it happened, the suspect instead was "lured out of the bank, where he was arrested" I don't have as much problem with it.

Unethical · Sept 26, 2017

It's a Sinclair station, so are we really surprised that they exercised questionable ethics.

JAB · Sept 26, 2017

When lives are at stake (potentially) then I see nothing wrong with doing whatever it takes to save them. I was a photog for 30 years & I can think of two instances where I acted first & did my paid job second. When the professional medical/emergency help arrived I pick my camera back up & shot.

NC · Sept 25, 2017

Seems the operation was orchestrated by the Law Enforcement and the station only option was to collaborate. If lives are stake i don't have any problem doing this. But doing it just to have a front of the line view? Never....

Gary Walters · Sept 25, 2017

Sounds like part of the plot to the movie True Lies, where Police posed as TV News crew.

My old station would only done it IF they had the 'Exclusive' banner and embargoed the video from other stations in the market

News88 · Sept 25, 2017

I think it's totally ridiculous that the TV station misled this guy into thinking that they were going to put his story on the air when in reality it was just a trap by the police. A journalist must always tell the truth, no matter the circumstances.

pete · Sept 25, 2017

Mark Bell said:

"In journalism, purity is credibility. One can't "unbreak" that glass."
The glass is broken when community activists moonlight as journalists.

Stu · Sept 25, 2017

So is it also wrong for a cop to disguise himself as a pizza delivery guy to gain access? Same deal. They police could have easily whipped out an old Beta camera from storage and a non-functional mic and played the part. If it happens again, that's probably what will happen. The equipment is just an object, a tool. And I thought we were supposed to operate in the public's interest. I'm sure the people in the bank were ok with what happened. We try to save lives with storm alerts, public safety issues all to keep the public out of danger. So did they.

Driver05 · Sept 25, 2017

Hey it’s okay as long they don’t damage the equipment and get the job done it works in the movies

NewsGuru GM · Sept 25, 2017

First, in our DMA's state, the police can accomadere the equipment and news van without permission in the course of their work. Therefore, it would not matter if I agreed with them or not; they can take the gear and van regardless. Secondly, I struggle with this. Arguably, as journalists, we are human and there could have been lives at risk, however, the man said he was not there to hurt anyone, so was anyone truly at risk? If not, then let it play out on its own. Was the station promised exclusive video? Perhaps POV bodycam video of the takedown? If so, I would be inclined to agree to let it happen. Again, in our DMA, they can take the gear and use it anyway. We might as well benefit from it and get the POV bodycam.

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