Colorado News Collaborative: Fallout from a bungled arrest of a Hispanic man in Westminster earlier this summer offers an opportunity for news organizations to reconsider the ways they typically report incidents publicized by police. 

The background: In early June, Westminster police pushed out a statement to local reporters saying they’d arrested a man after an elderly couple complained of a robbery at a yard sale. In announcing their arrest, police touted it as a “perfect example of the community and police department coming together to solve a crime and make the community a safer place to live.” 

Local TV and digital media ran with the story, linking the man’s name and photo to the words “violent robbery” in headlines.

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