An Iowa journalist covering a protest for racial justice was blinded when a police officer shot pepper spray in her face, and jailed for hours, despite telling the officer repeatedly that she was just doing her job, according to video played at the reporter’s trial.
Body camera video captured by Des Moines Police Sgt. Natale Chiodo showed Des Moines Register reporter Andrea Sahouri in custody on May 31, 2020, her eyes burning from pepper spray. She said she was with the newspaper and asked Officer Luke Wilson why he arrested her, adding that she was in pain and could not see.