Judge lifts restraining order against Florida TV reporter

By The Associated Press

12.20.02

Printer-friendly page

TAMPA, Fla. — A judge has lifted a restraining order against a local television reporter, allowing him to resume questioning a man who claims the reporter is stalking him in pursuit of a story.

WFLA investigative reporter Steve Andrews has done a series of stories involving the multiple DUI arrests of Minh Ben Ross of Tampa.

Hillsborough County Judge Eric Myers ended a restraining order yesterday against Andrews that had required him to stay 300 feet away from Ross. Myers decided not to extend the weeklong restraining order for a year.

Andrews said the judge had "stomped on" his First Amendment right to report the news for a week and he was pleased the restraining order was lifted.

Ross described in an affidavit that the way Andrews approached him outside the courthouse Dec. 2 was violent. He said he was nervous, scared and paranoid.

Ross, a 30-year-old cook, had complained that Andrews "harassed me and my lawyer repetitively with unwarranted questions" outside the Hillsborough courthouse, and had a cameraman film him without his knowledge.

He had also accused the reporter of "displaying me and treating me as a terrible individual" on newscasts.

Andrews has aired a series of stories involving Ross' multiple DUI arrests and how Hillsborough County Judge Elvin Martinez tossed out crucial evidence against Ross at a trial.

Ross' lawyer, James Thomas, said his client felt intimidated by Andrews and took out the injunction on his own accord.

In May 2001, a TV investigative reporter in Miami was issued a restraining order to stay away from a man with congestive heart failure whom she tried to interview in a hospital.

WPLG-TV reporter Jilda Unruh wanted to interview Eric "Rick" Sisser about land and health care deals with the Miami-Dade School Board.

Previous

TV reporter must stay 300 feet away from man
WFLA's Steve Andrews has done series of stories involving multiple DUI arrests of Minh Ben Ross of Tampa, Fla.  12.12.02