A TV reporter doing a story about airport security was arrested Saturday morning after he climbed over a fence.
Television station WDAY said it suspended reporter Mike Licquia pending the results of the police investigation. A cameraman who was with Licquia did not climb the fence and was not arrested, Fargo police Sgt. Wayne Jorgenson said.
Reached at home, Licquia referred comment about the incident to supervisors.
"There's a lot I have to say, but at this point it's not the time for that," he said.
Police arrested Licquia about 11 a.m. after witnesses reported him scaling an 8-foot chain-link fence at Hector International Airport. Witnesses said the reporter entered a loading area next to the terminal before climbing out again, Jorgenson said.
Licquia was arrested on suspicion of trespassing in a secure area, a Class C felony, and released on a personal recognizance bond. Formal charges have not been filed.
Officers also confiscated the reporter's video tape.
Jorgenson said Licquia told police he was not assigned to scale the fence.
"I think what he said is that WDAY did not know he was going to do this,'' Jorgenson said.
"We've had people jump the fence periodically over the years, but this is the first time that I know of that we've had a reporter do it," Jorgenson said.
When asked about the reporter's suspension, WDAY news director Al Aamodt said, "We'll deal with it on Monday."
Licquia is expected to appear in Cass County District Court on Tuesday.