2 reporters arrested during Ferguson protests settle suits

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — Two journalists who were arrested while reporting on protests after the fatal police shooting of Michael Brown have settled lawsuits against St. Louis County, the American Civil Liberties Union announced Monday.

The lawsuits claimed the reporters' rights were violated and that police didn't have probable cause to arrest them. The journalists covered protests that came in the days and weeks after a white Ferguson police officer fatally shot Brown, a black, unarmed 18-year-old.

The ACLU of Missouri and the reporters are dismissing the lawsuits after reaching a settlement with St. Louis County, said ALCU spokeswoman Diane Balogh.

As part of the settlements, the county won't file criminal charges against the reporters and will cooperate with efforts to expunge their arrest records. The county also will pay the ACLU and reporter Gerald "Trey" Yingst a lump sum of $8,500, according to copies of the settlements the ACLU provided.