George Steinmetz, National Geographic Photographer, Arrested Taking Photos Of Kansas Feedlot

[proud2BlibKansan]

A freelance photographer working for National Geographic was arrested on a charge of misdemeanor criminal trespassing in Garden City, Kan., The Associated Press reports.

George Steinmetz, a New Jersey-based aerial photographer, was taking pictures of a feedlot outside Garden City from a paraglider prior to his June 28 arrest with paraglider instructor Wei Zhang. They were held briefly at Finney County jail and each was released on $270 bond.

The Huffington Post reached out to Steinmetz, who would not comment on the advice of his attorney. Steinmetz's work has also appeared in The New Yorker, Smithsonian magazine and in February was featured on NBC's "Today" show. Steinmetz often works from a motorized paraglider, a lightweight machine with a small engine and parachute that he assembles.

Finney Country Sheriff Kevin Bascue told AP the two men were charged because they didn't have permission to take off from private property and hadn't told anyone they intended to take photos. Calls by The Huffington Post to Finney County attorney Susan Richmeier for further explanation were not immediately returned.

more . . . http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/07/11/george-steinmetz-arrested-feedlot_n_3575593.html?utm_hp_ref=fb&src=sp&comm_ref=false#sb=47613b=facebook

[sinkingfeeling]

1. "Land of the free"?

[snappyturtle]

2. Guess he doesn't know about:

............Kansas' ag gag law, the Farm Animal and Field Crop and Research Facilities Protection Act, which became the nation's first when it was signed into law in 1990. The law bars individuals from entering and photographing an animal facility not open to the public.

Who knew? Wouldn't you think they'd just ask him to destroy/delete, whatever, the photos he took rather than arrest him?

[ag_dude]

3. He wasn't arrested under that law.

I think AgGag laws are as counterproductive as it gets but he wasn't arrested under that law. He was arrested for trespassing.

[snappyturtle]

4. Opps! Thanks...I read it wrong. I see now....sorry. nt

[JPZenger]

5. They tried to pass that ag gag law in PA too

The first version was ridiculously all-encompassing, prohibiting any photography of anything involving agriculture without prior permission of the landowner, even when the photos were taken from another property.

While they weren't charged under that law, they could have been.