Times-Picayune Photographer John McCusker Out Of Hospital
New Orleans Times-Picayune photographer John McCusker was released from the hospital this week and will face four criminal charges related to his confrontation with police two weeks ago, according to his editor.
McCusker feels embarrassed about what happened
and grateful for the people who supported him, says photo editor Doug Parker, who spoke to McCusker earlier this week. "He's in very good spirits," Parker says.
McCusker had been under psychiatric evaluation since Aug. 8, when he provoked police officers in what was described as an attempted "suicide by cop." McCusker, a life-long New Orleans resident, was apparently depressed over being unable to get enough insurance money to rebuild his house, which was destroyed in the flooding that followed Hurricane Katrina last year.
He is now home and has been talking to friends. "He sounds like the John we know," says Bridget O'Brian, who spoke to McCusker Thursday. O'Brian is a former Picayune reporter and founder of Friends of the Times-Picayune, a fund to help employees of the newspaper.
When the news of McCusker's arrest appeared, fellow journalists and friends began contributing money in his name to the Friends of the Times-Picayune. As of Thursday afternoon, more than 100 people had donated $20,000 to a special fund called the Friends of John McCusker Trust Fund.
The general fund has raised $204,276 for employees of the newspaper as of Thursday, according to the Friends of the Times-Picayune web site, which also has details about how to contribute.
Last week, police arrested McCusker after he allegedly led them on a chase and backed his car into one officer, who suffered minor injuries.
Police charged McCusker with aggravated battery, aggravated flight from an officer, hit-and-run and reckless driving, according to Parker. The first two charges are felonies.
McCusker's episode underscored the difficulties facing journalists living and working in the flood-damaged areas of the Gulf Coast. McCusker was going to therapy and took a leave of absence from work earlier this year, according to one report.
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McCusker feels embarrassed about what happened
McCusker had been under psychiatric evaluation since Aug. 8, when he provoked police officers in what was described as an attempted "suicide by cop." McCusker, a life-long New Orleans resident, was apparently depressed over being unable to get enough insurance money to rebuild his house, which was destroyed in the flooding that followed Hurricane Katrina last year.
He is now home and has been talking to friends. "He sounds like the John we know," says Bridget O'Brian, who spoke to McCusker Thursday. O'Brian is a former Picayune reporter and founder of Friends of the Times-Picayune, a fund to help employees of the newspaper.
When the news of McCusker's arrest appeared, fellow journalists and friends began contributing money in his name to the Friends of the Times-Picayune. As of Thursday afternoon, more than 100 people had donated $20,000 to a special fund called the Friends of John McCusker Trust Fund.
The general fund has raised $204,276 for employees of the newspaper as of Thursday, according to the Friends of the Times-Picayune web site, which also has details about how to contribute.
Last week, police arrested McCusker after he allegedly led them on a chase and backed his car into one officer, who suffered minor injuries.
Police charged McCusker with aggravated battery, aggravated flight from an officer, hit-and-run and reckless driving, according to Parker. The first two charges are felonies.
McCusker's episode underscored the difficulties facing journalists living and working in the flood-damaged areas of the Gulf Coast. McCusker was going to therapy and took a leave of absence from work earlier this year, according to one report.
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- Reuters Photojournalist Recounts Disaster in New Orleans
- Hurricane Wipes Out Some Press Awards, But Fees Will Go to Victims
- More Than $9,000 Raised For Arrested 'Times-Picayune' Photographer
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- Roesgen Joins CNN Gulf Coast
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- Former 'Times-Pic' Staffers Have Raised Over $20,000 for Paper's Employees
- More Than $20,000 Raised For 'Times-Picayune' Photographer
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