Nydia Tisdale obstruction trial finally begins

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DAWSONVILLE, Ga. – The long-awaited trial of Nydia Tisdale, the self-proclaimed citizen journalist charged with two counts of obstruction of an officer, began today (Nov. 27) in Dawson County Superior Court.

Tisdale was arrested by Dawson County Sheriff’s Captain Tony Wooten in August 2014 while filming a political candidate rally at Burt’s Pumpkin Farm in Dawson County. If convicted, she could face five years in prison.

Assistant District Attorney Conley Greer

Tisdale claims she had the property owner’s permission to film the event. However, owners, Johnny and Kathy Burt, told Dawsonnews.com Tisdale misled them. They say they asked Wooten to tell her to stop filming or leave their property. Wooten says when she refused to stop filming, he arrested her. According to the arrest warrant, Tisdale elbowed Wooten in the face and kicked him in the shin.

Day one of the trial began with several motions by Defense Attorney Bruce Harvey and Assistant District Attorney Conley Greer. Senior Superior Court Judge Martha Christian said she would rule on motions prior to hearing opening statements.

Jury selection is expected to continue through late Tuesday (Nov. 28), followed by opening statements by both attorneys.

Defense Attorney Bruce Harvey

Fetch Your News owner Brian K. Pritchard attended the rally at Burt’s Pumpkin Farm on the day Tisdale was arrested. It was his audio recording and subsequent reporting of the incident that attracted state and national attention. Pritchard said he has been subpoenaed by the state and is expected to testify this week.

The arrest sparked outrage by the mainstream media and political activists who claim Tisdale’s First Amendment rights had been violated. Property rights advocates, on the other hand, say property owners have every right to evict someone from their property.

 

 

Fetch Your News is a hyper local news outlet that covers Dawson, Lumpkin, White, Fannin, Gilmer, Pickens, Union, Towns and Murray counties as well as Cherokee County in N.C. If you would like to follow up-to-date local events in any of those counties, please visit us at FetchYourNews.com

 


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