Charges Dropped Against Times Photographer in Miami Case

Prosecutors have dropped criminal charges filed against a Los Angeles Times photographer who was arrested April 22 while covering civil disturbances that followed the federal seizure of Elian Gonzalez.

Carolyn Cole, 38, faced felony charges of throwing a deadly missile. A police officer had said she was seen throwing rocks during an afternoon of skirmishes between police and protesters angry that the 6-year-old Cuban boy had been taken by force from the home of his Miami relatives.

Times officials characterized the charges as “totally without foundation,” and asked that they be dismissed.

“The more we looked into the charges, the more it was clear that a horrible mistake had been made,” said John M. Hogan, a Miami attorney representing Cole and The Times. “Carolyn did nothing wrong.”