Sacramento News Crew Threatened with Arrest Near Yolo County Explosion Site

A television news crew from Sacramento's ABC affiliate, KXTV (Tegna), was threatened with arrest on Wednesday while covering the aftermath of a recent explosion in Yolo County. Sheriff's deputies contended that the crew was filming inside a designated crime scene.

According to a law enforcement source speaking to Solano NewsNet, the same crew had been warned a day prior about their proximity to the blast site, being told to move for their own safety and to preserve the integrity of the investigation.

However, a member of the news crew told officers they had used a GPS application to navigate to the location and had not encountered any roadblocks or visible signs indicating the area was closed. Despite this claim, the police source reiterated that a previous warning had been issued to the crew.

Deputies instructed the unidentified crew to leave the restricted area and warned they would be arrested if they returned. A spokesperson for KXTV has not yet responded to requests for comment.

Under California Penal Code § 409.5(d), journalists are generally permitted access to disaster areas closed to the public. However, this access does not extend to active crime scenes, and reporters can be arrested if they interfere with evidence or an investigation.