Incident
Minnesota State Patrol arrests CNN crew live on air in Minneapolis
Minnesota State Patrol troopers arrested CNN correspondent Omar Jimenez and his crew on live television while they covered protests after the police killing of George Floyd. Officers gave no reason before handcuffing the three men; Governor Tim Walz apologized hours later and called the arrest a failure of the state's own procedures.1
What happened
Just after 5 a.m. on May 29, 2020, Minnesota State Patrol troopers in riot gear approached a CNN crew, correspondent Omar Jimenez, photojournalist Leonel Mendez and producer Bill Kirkos, reporting live from Minneapolis on protests over George Floyd's killing four days earlier. Jimenez identified himself on camera, showed his credentials and offered to move; troopers handcuffed him anyway, without giving a reason, and the arrest aired live. Mendez and Kirkos were also detained and the crew's equipment was seized. All three were released about ninety minutes later after CNN's president contacted state officials. Governor Tim Walz, Minnesota's head of government, apologized publicly the same day, saying the state bore responsibility for failing to protect journalists covering the unrest. CNN pointed out that a white CNN correspondent working nearby, Josh Campbell, was allowed to stay after identifying himself, a contrast that became part of the story.1234
What reason was given
Stated justificationTroopers gave no explanation to the crew before or during the arrest. State Patrol did not publish a contemporaneous justification; Governor Walz later called the episode a failure rather than defending it.1234
What changed for reporting
CNN's live broadcast was interrupted by the arrest of an identified, credentialed crew, and the incident became one of the most widely seen examples in a wave the U.S. Press Freedom Tracker recorded of officers detaining or using force against journalists covering the 2020 protests nationwide.24
Timeline
2020
Who acted
| Name | Role in this incident | Office at the time |
|---|---|---|
| Minnesota State Patrol | enforced | State police agency |
| Tim Walz | other | Governor of Minnesota |
Outlets and journalists
| Name | Kind | Relation |
|---|---|---|
| CNN | outlet | affected |
| Bill Kirkos | journalist, CNN | affected |
| Leonel Mendez | journalist, CNN | affected |
| Omar Jimenez | journalist, CNN | affected |
Sources
- CNN correspondent, news crew arrested on-air while documenting Minneapolis protests
- CNN reporter Omar Jimenez and a crew were arrested and released on live TV in Minneapolis archived copy
Claims and evidence
Each numbered claim quotes the source it rests on.
- CNN correspondent Josh Campbell, reporting nearby, was allowed to stay after identifying himself, while Jimenez was handcuffed.
I identified myself … they said, 'OK, you're permitted to be in the area.'
CNN reporter Omar Jimenez and a crew were arrested and released on live TV in Minneapolis archived copy, Poynter, 2020-05-29.Claim 327, checked 2026-09-22. - Jimenez described the troopers who led him away as not violent, even as he was arrested without explanation.
As far as the people who were leading me away — there was no animosity there, they weren't violent with me.
CNN correspondent, news crew arrested on-air while documenting Minneapolis protests, U.S. Press Freedom Tracker, 2020-05-29.Claim 328, checked 2026-09-22. - Governor Walz took personal responsibility for the arrest the same day.
This one is on me and I own it...I failed you last night in that.
CNN correspondent, news crew arrested on-air while documenting Minneapolis protests, U.S. Press Freedom Tracker, 2020-05-29.Claim 329, checked 2026-09-22. - A CNN anchor said the arrest reflected a broader loss of control by authorities managing the protests.
I do think what happened to Omar is part of a general loss of control.
CNN reporter Omar Jimenez and a crew were arrested and released on live TV in Minneapolis archived copy, Poynter, 2020-05-29.Claim 330, checked 2026-09-22.