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Ron Harper doesn't mince words. The Lancaster Post publisher and journalist says he was attacked by "renegade" Franklin and Marshall College Police.
At a press conference Wednesday he sported a large scrape on his right temple. "My head bounced off the School Lane property asphalt," Harper said.
Harper said he was replacing a stolen newspaper box near School Lane and Marietta Avenue Wednesday afternoon. He said he was on public property when he and his co-publisher were arrested.
Harper said he believes the arrest was retaliation for an unflattering story he penned about F&M President John Fry.
"To watch a personal friend, a good guy, who has done absolutely nothing wrong get thrown down for no other reason than publishing a story that the man across the street took exception to is despicable," said co-publisher Chris Hart Nibbrig.
College officials, however, have a different version of the story. They say Harper was scaring Fry's family by leaving business cards at his home. Police had sent Harper a letter stating he was no longer welcome on campus property.
Public Safety Director Maureen Kelly said several employees saw Harper in Fry's driveway Wednesday afternoon. Those employees reported Harper was making verbal threats.
Kelly claims Harper was trespassing and that her officers were within their rights to arrest him. She said Harper made things worse by resisting arrest and flailing his arms. "Whatever happened, I believe was justified," she said.
Harper did not report the incident to Lancaster Police, saying that would be a "waste of time." He does, however, plan to pursue legal action against the college.
"Without a free press ... we do not have the country my forefathers gave their life's blood for," Harper said.
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