2/9 7:14 AM PT -- 2/9 -- According to the arrest affidavit -- just obtained by TMZ -- Evan Lambert was reporting live from the gymnasium during Governor Mike DeWine's press conference about the Ohio train derailment. Two state troopers and a national guardsman told Lambert to stop the broadcast because it was too loud. The docs say Lambert got into a heated exchange with the guardsman, who accused the journalist of "coming at him."
According to the affidavit, the guardsman "pushed" Lambert away as several police officers ordered the reporter to leave the gym. The officers say Lambert refused and continued to disobey police orders to step out of the building ... which finally led to them arresting him for criminal trespass and physically removing him from the building.
Lambert was officially charged with two misdemeanors -- resisting arrest and criminal trespass.
8:32 PM PT -- NewsNation reporter Evan Lambert has been released from jail.
NewsNation reporter @EvanLambertTV speaks about his arrest upon being released late Wednesday night. "Most things are on video … so it's pretty clear to see what happened. … I'm just trying to do my job."
— NewsNation (@NewsNation) February 9, 2023
Watch #Banfield: https://t.co/s8z9kEhRC4 pic.twitter.com/VpnQzm0f1N
Evan spoke about his arrest upon being released late Wednesday night saying … "I’m doing fine right now, and it’s just been an extremely long day, I have to be kind of careful about what I say, but as you can see I’m out. You know, most things are on video in this situation, so it’s pretty clear to see what happened."
6:32 PM PT -- A Rep for Governor Mike DeWine tells TMZ … "Governor DeWine did not see the incident take place ... Governor DeWine did not request that the reporter stop his live broadcast, nor did he know that the request was being made."
The rep also stated, "As the Governor said at the conclusion of today’s briefing, he has always respected the media’s right to report live before, during, and after his press briefings, and the interruption to the reporter’s broadcast should not have taken place."
5:01 PM PT -- NewsNation Bureau Chief Mike Viqueira just released an official statement on the arrest of Evan Lambert, stating ... "I Just spoke with Evan, who called from the Columbiana County Jail, where he is currently detained."
Viqueira continued, "First, Evan is safe and calm, and continues to act with professionalism and integrity that he brings to his work each day. As you see from the videos, he was doing his job -- what hundreds of journalists do without incident -- reporting to the public on a matter of urgent, critical interest to our audience."
As for Evan's release, Mike says "Local law enforcement has told [Evan] that the soonest he can be released is 8:30 ET tomorrow. Every effort is being made to assist Evan and secure his release as soon as possible."
A reporter covering Governor Mike DeWine's news conference was taken down to the ground by law enforcement and arrested Wednesday for allegedly disrupting a news conference.
Governor DeWine was at an East Palestine, Ohio gym, discussing a train derailment in the city when reporter Evan Lambert was doing a live shot for NewsNation. It appears police told Lambert he was interrupting the Governor, but Lambert was in the middle of his report and continued on.
Just after Lambert finished, local police took Lambert down to the ground and cuffed him, as onlookers questioned cops as to why.
Lambert was cuffed and taken to jail. A NewsNation exec tells TMZ they were told Lambert would have to spend the night in jail, adding the Governor called the network and said he wanted Lambert released.
Lambert was arrested for disorderly conduct and criminal trespassing.
Originally Published -- 3:38 PM PT