FTVLive

View Original

Charges Upgraded Against Austin Photographer

Six days ago, FTVLive told you that a KTBC (Austin) Photographer was arrested while covering protests at the University of Texas Austin Campus.

Now it appears that the charges against the Photog have been upgraded to a felony.

KXAN reports that according to an active arrest warrant affidavit, Carlos Sanchez faces a charge of assault on a peace officer, a second-degree felony.

The affidavit said Sanchez lunged toward a Texas Highway Patrol officer, who was on campus assisting the university’s police department during its response to the protest, striking him with his camera.

KXAN spoke to Sanchez, who identified himself as Carlos, as he was led away in handcuffs Wednesday afternoon.

“They said that I hit an officer. I didn’t hit an officer. They were pushing me. They were pushing me,” he said. “This never happened to me, you know what I mean? I was just covering things… I told them I was press.”

The trooper who was hit said he was working to relocate protesters in front of him to where they were ordered to move and that he was suddenly struck on his lower head and neck area from behind by a large object, the affidavit said. He said he saw a man — identified later as Sanchez — arrested by two other troopers and taken from the scene.

I find it hard to believe that a Photog covering a story would hit a cop. I would like to see the video (if it exists) of him doing that.

See this content in the original post