Observer photographer Lionel Rookwood was arrested and charged with breaches of the Noise Abatement Act after taking photographs of a scuffle between police and the owner of a sound system at a dance on Red Hills Road early Friday morning.

The police had reportedly draped the female promoter of the dance when the owner of the sound system – the promoter’s common-law husband – intervened and asked them why they needed to get physical.

An argument developed between the sound system owner and the police who draped the man, triggering protest from patrons who stepped in and held onto the man.

The patrons – who were determined that the cops would not arrest the sound system operator – refused to let go of the man, while the police tried to pull him away.

Rookwood, who for a few moments had been selecting music for the sound system, started taking pictures of the scuffle and drew the attention of the cops.

According to Rookwood, he was hauled off to the Constant Spring Police Station after the cops demanded that he hand over his camera.

“I showed them my ID and told them I was doing my job, but they wanted to take away my camera so I dismantled it,” said Rookwood. “That seemed to have irked them and they draped me and carried me to the station.”

Rookwood said that when he got to the station, one of the arresting officers told him that he would not get bail unless he showed them the photos he took.

Rookwood is charged with operating a sound system without a permit.

A woman who promoted the dance was also arrested and charged by the police.

If convicted, he could be fined up to $15,000. If the fine is not paid, then Rookwood could be imprisoned for up to six months.

He will appear in the Corporate Area Resident Magistrate’s Court on Friday.

Rookwood is the third media worker to be arrested by police this year following the arrests of Observer reporter Julian Richardson and Gleaner photographer Ricardo Makyn in February.

Richardson was arrested after he stopped at a vendor’s stall to purchase water. He was accosted by two cops who threatened to charge him for obstructing traffic but offered to drop the charges if he bought them refreshments.

Richardson refused and accused the cops of attempting to bribe him. The cops then threatened to shoot Richardson before hauling him off to the Constant Spring Police Station and charged him with using indecent language.

On Wednesday, Makyn was acquitted in the Petty Sessions section of the Corporate Area Resident Magistrate’s Court.

Makyn, who was arrested after an altercation with a policeman in the busy hub of Half-Way-Tree in St Andrew, was charged with assaulting an officer, disobeying a lawful order and abusive language.

However, a tribunal of justices of the peace found the photographer not guilty of the charges.

The incident occurred on February 20 after Makyn took photographs at the scene of a fatal shooting near the Transport Centre in Half-Way-Tree.

Here are some of the pictures of the altercation taken by Rookwood.