Police Seize Camera from Student Journalists

The teens are on the staff of the Annandale High School newspaper, and on Tuesday they noticed Fairfax County police questioning a group of teens outside the school. So the news editor took some pictures.

But a policewoman stopped their car and seized the camera. A second officer later returned it -- with the digital photos erased. That cop claims it was an accident, but editor Kyle Smeallie tells The Associated Press there are multiple steps involved to erase pictures.

Another editor, Paul Gleason, says the cop threatened to have the principal remove them from the newspaper staff.

Acting Fairfax Police Chief Suzanne Devlin says it's not her department's policy to confiscate cameras or erase pictures.

The police are now trying to restore the pictures, and plan to meet with the students tomorrow. The teens want an apology.

(Copyright 2004 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)