Judge Dismisses Charges Vs. Bush Protester Thu Sep 16,12:26 AM ET

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - A judge has dismissed charges against a war protester
who was arrested during a visit by President Bush last spring.

The disorderly conduct charge against Joe Scott was dismissed after
witnesses and a videotape contradicted police testimony about his actions.

Scott, 57, claimed he was being singled out by Nashville police during the
May 27 visit. "I'm very relieved," he said Tuesday. "I've not been tried as
a criminal before."

During the trial, police testified that they wanted Scott, who was holding
a "Fire Bush" sign, to move away from the shoulder of the road because he
was creating a safety problem and because the U.S. Secret Service wanted
protesters at least 10 feet from the street.

Mounted patrol officer Rita Harden testified that Scott had resisted and
had run across the street. A videotape of the confrontation showed that
Harden used her horse to bump Scott into the street, but it never showed
him running away.

Police testified that they asked both Bush supporters and Scott to move,
but the video and still photographs contradicted that claim, defense
attorney Mary Parker said.

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