Homeless man held Atlanta TV news crew 'hostage' for an hour, threatened them with gun he didn't have
JONESBORO, GEORGIA: The man accused of holding an Atlanta News First crew hostage on Clayton County government property for more than an hour made his first court appearance on Tuesday, December 12.
The charges brought against Brandon R Logan are terroristic threats, false imprisonment, public intoxication, obstructing or impeding an emergency phone call, simple battery, simple assault, and loitering or prowling.
Brandon R Logan arrested in Jonesboro
Police in Jonesboro, Georgia, identified Logan as a homeless man. Logan was taken into custody early on Tuesday morning. A preliminary hearing was scheduled for January 24, 2024, and a bond of $11,000 was set.
The incident happened just before 11 pm on Monday, when photojournalist Lauren Swaim and reporter Asia Wilson of Atlanta News First were getting ready to deliver a live report from the Clayton County Sheriff's office parking lot.
The crew reported that at that point, a man approached them, brandished a gun, and threatened to shoot them if they called for assistance. The team informed the newsroom of Atlanta News First that they were in danger, ANF reported.
The authorities were notified right away. Three employees of Atlanta News First, realizing that time was of the essence, took action and drove to the courthouse, which was over 20 minutes away from the station.
They flagged down a police cruiser en route. The crew was still with the suspect when that officer hurried to the scene.
Police showed up on the scene and took Logan into custody after the encounter lasted for about an hour and a half. There was no gun at the scene, according to the police.
"The incident did not injure our reporter or photojournalist, and they are currently recuperating. As we learn more, Atlanta News First will keep asking questions about what transpired and provide you with updates," the outlet said in a statement.
Jonesboro Police release information
The Jonesboro Police Department made the following information about the incident public on Wednesday: On December 11, 2023, Clayton County E-911 Communications received a call from Atlanta First News CBS employee Gary Stilwell, who reported a threat to his news crew.
The department responded and a responding officer arrived at the scene. The officer spoke to a male subject who was possibly the person making the threats. An additional news crew was dispatched to assess the situation.
Sergeant Ward from the Clayton County Police Department responded promptly and apprehended Brandon Logan without incident. The victims reported that Logan threatened to harm them if they attempted to leave, but no weapons were found.
