The complete record

7 incidents matching your filters.

May 2026

May 1, 2026Trinidad, TX

Texas woman arrested after Facebook posts about discolored water supply

A Texas woman was arrested after posting videos and warnings on Facebook about discolored local water and encouraging residents to report similar concerns. Authorities alleged the posts caused public alarm. Charges were later dismissed, and the woman filed legal action against local officials and agencies involved.

Arrest#Facebook#Water quality

October 2020

Verified

Oct 17, 2020Phoenix, AZ

Phoenix police and prosecutors charge protesters as 'street gang' over anti-police speech

Phoenix Police Department officers and Maricopa County prosecutors charged at least 15 racial-justice protesters in October 2020 as members of a criminal 'street gang' called ACAB, citing chants, clothing, and social-media posts. A judge dismissed the gang allegations in 2021 and an internal investigation found misconduct.

Arrest#Protest#Gang Charge

March 2020

Verified

Mar 20, 2020Forest Hill, LA

Louisiana man arrested over zombie-apocalypse COVID meme posted on Facebook

Waylon Bailey was arrested by Rapides Parish sheriff's deputies in March 2020 for a Facebook post jokingly warning that deputies had orders to shoot 'infected' people on sight, referencing the film World War Z. The Fifth Circuit ruled in 2023 that the arrest violated the First and Fourth Amendments.

Arrest#Facebook#COVID

April 2018

Verified

Apr 26, 2018Black Mountain, NC

North Carolina man arrested by FBI over threatening tweet at Rep. John Lewis

Joseph Cecil Vandevere of Black Mountain, North Carolina was arrested by the FBI in April 2018 for a tweet directed at Rep. John Lewis depicting a lynching image and the words 'TRAITORS & TRECHEROUS [sic] SNAKES … NEED A BULLET.' He was convicted under 18 U.S.C. § 875(c) and sentenced to four months in prison.

Arrest#FBI#Twitter

January 2017

Verified

Jan 20, 2017Washington, DC

Journalists arrested while covering inauguration protests

During protests surrounding the 2017 presidential inauguration, several journalists and documentary filmmakers were arrested alongside demonstrators and initially faced serious criminal charges. Press freedom advocates argued that the arrests risked criminalizing newsgathering activities and could have a chilling effect on journalists covering public protests. Many charges were later dismissed, and some defendants were acquitted after trial.

Arrest#Journalism#Protest

March 2016

Verified

Mar 2, 2016Parma, OH

Ohio man arrested and jailed for Facebook page parodying Parma police

Anthony Novak was arrested in 2016 after creating a Facebook page parodying the Parma, Ohio Police Department. He spent four days in jail before a jury acquitted him. The Sixth Circuit later granted officers qualified immunity, and the Supreme Court declined to hear his appeal in 2022.

Arrest#Parody#Facebook

August 2015

Verified

Aug 15, 2015Lakewood, CO

Denver activist Eric Brandt repeatedly arrested for cursing at police on sidewalks

Eric Brandt, a Denver-area First Amendment activist, was arrested multiple times between 2015 and 2018 for holding signs and shouting profanity at police officers. Federal courts repeatedly ruled the conduct constituted protected speech, awarding civil-rights damages.

Arrest#First Amendment Auditor#Profanity