] 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.