Cops Threaten Reporter with Subpoena, This Time in Easton, Pa.

By: Joe Strupp Pennsylvania police investigating strong comments made at a public meeting have threatened to subpoena a reporter who covered the incident but is now refusing to discuss it with investigators.

The Express-Times in Easton, Pa., published a story Dec. 9 about the previous night's Plainfield Township Supervisors meeting. The story, by reporter Jeff Schogol, included an item about the public-comment portion of the night, revealing that a local man allegedly threatened to shoot dirt bikers and others who had been trespassing on his property.

As part of the investigation, officers asked Express-Times Editor Joseph Owens on Thursday if they could interview Schogol about his reporting. The editor declined, prompting police to threaten the reporter with a subpoena if he did not cooperate, Owens said.

"I think they are serious [about a subpoena]," Owens told E&P. "They are going after him on two fronts -- one is what he said in the meeting, the other is what he said to our reporter outside the meeting."

The man accused of making the threats, Robert Kroboth, told police his comments were not meant to be threatening and were taken out of context by the reporter, police said. "The officers wanted to make sure that what [the paper] printed is what he said," Police Chief Dean Ceraul told E&P. "We are trying to verify what he wrote."

The chief said he hoped the dispute would nor lead to a subpoena, but said it would be sought "if it is needed." Schogol declined to comment, referring all requests to Owens.

"We don't need to be a part of an investigation," Owens stressed. "Our job is to be there and report what happened. I don?t know if there was a crime committed, and there is no reason for our reporter to talk to them."

The editor said at least a dozen other people were at the meeting and could be interviewed by police to verify the reporter's story. "Reporters should not be subject to interrogation based on what they wrote," Owens said, adding that Schogol had not been taken off of his regular government beat.

Police Chief Ceraul contended that he is only trying to find out what happened. "He should be accountable for what he prints," the chief said about the reporter. "We are just looking for cooperation."