Update: Charges Dropped Against News Photographer, State Trooper Reassigned

Charges of obstructing governmental operations against a Maumelle newspaper photographer have been dropped. Pulaski County prosecutors dropped the charges against Bill Lawson Friday afternoon.

Meantime, the Arkansas State Trooper that arrested Lawson, Trooper Thomas Weindruch, has been removed from enforcement duty status and assigned to temporary office duties at the department?s headquarters.

According to a news release from the agency, State Police Director Col.Winford Phillips ordered Weindruch not to wear the uniform of the department nor act in the capacity of a law enforcement officer. The reassignment will continue while state police conduct an internal affairs investigation based on the complaint of Bill Lawson, a Maumelle newspaper photographer.

Lawson accused Trooper Weindruch of inappropriate and hostile behavior as he attempted to take pictures at a Maumelle house fire Monday evening. Lawson filed a formal complaint against Weindruch with the state police.

Trooper Weindruch arrested and charged Lawson with obstructing a governmental operation. Lawson says, "While he had me handcuffed he got up in my face and was verbally abusive. I think he was really trying to pick a fight with me."

During the incident, Maumelle firefighters called Maumelle police to try to ease the situation. The police chief told Today?s THV when he arrived on the scene the arrest had already taken place. The citation had been written, the court date set, and there was nothing he could do.

In a release from state police public information officer Bill Sadler, Colonel Phillips told the department?s Internal Affairs staff to make this case a priority investigation. Phillips has requested a written report to be submitted from the Internal Affairs staff to the Highway Patrol Division commander as quickly as all statements and evidence relating to the Maumelle incident can be collected.

Colonel Phillips says that incidents of inappropriate behavior by an employee of the Arkansas State Police will not be tolerated and that incidents such as this one, or any other, brought to his attention will be thoroughly investigated.