Larry Rushing, 78, worked as a research scientist for the FDA for 30 years; published nearly 40 impenetrably titled academic articles such as "Pyrolysis mass spectrometry for distinguishing potential hoax materials from bioterror agents"; graduated from the University of Arkansas with an MS, and is almost as soft-spoken as he is hard of hearing.

Rushing went to White Hall City Hall on June 22 to make a Freedom of Information Act request for records concerning the city's Skycop cameras. Rushing said Mayor Noel Foster claimed that FOIA requests must be written. (FOIA requests need not be written.)

When Rushing continued with his oral request, the mayor summoned the police, asserting that Rushing had been told to leave and refused. Rushing told me that nobody ordered him out.

Police Chief David Parker's narrative in the police report admits that he pulled the near octogenarian out of his chair--his chair!--and arrested him.

What's the basis to arrest a member of the public sitting in a chair in a government building during business hours? Was it simply because some dime-store dictator didn't want Rushing there?

I've previously pilloried here those petty potentates who proclaim public property off-limits to the populace who pay for it. Why mayn't Rushing stay in city hall until closing?

I wrote Foster at his city email address at 9:27 a.m. July 23:

"This is [a] FOIA request. I'm a citizen of Arkansas. I request all records showing:

"1. The cost of purchasing the skycop cameras by White Hall.

"2. The cost of any service contracts for the skycop cameras.

"3. The personnel record for police chief David Parker.

"4. The body camera footage for any White Hall police for the arrest of Larry Rushing on June 22, 2026 around 1:30 p.m. at city hall.

"Please email in electronic format the responsive documents.

At 10:31 a.m., Foster replied:

"I am on travel but will forward your........

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