Workers board up businesses that were vandaliized after a night of rioting in Ferguson, Missouri on August 11, 2014. People are upset because of the Ferguson Police shooting and death of an unarmed black teenager Michael Brown on August 9, 2014. In all about 20 businesses sustained damage after a candlelight vigil turned violent. UPI/Bill Greenblatt | License Photo

St. Louis County Police stand guard over a QuickTrip Gas staton that was burned, while a ATM machine lays in the parking lot following a night of looting, rioting and arsons in Ferguson, Missouri on August 11, 2014. People are upset because of the Ferguson Police shooting and death of an unarmed black teenager Michael Brown on August 9, 2014. In all about 20 businesses sustained damage after a candlelight vigil turned violent. UPI/Bill Greenblatt | License Photo

Protestors march toward the Ferguson Police station following a night of looting, rioting and arsons in Ferguson, Missouri on August 11, 2014. People are upset because of the Ferguson Police shooting and death of an unarmed black teenager Michael Brown on August 9, 2014. In all about 20 businesses sustained damage after a candlelight vigil turned violent. UPI/Bill Greenblatt | License Photo

Protesters are greeted by lines of State and County police during a demonstration march on the Ferguson police station in Ferguson, Missouri on August 11, 2014. People are upset because of the Ferguson Police shooting and death of an unarmed black teenager Michael Brown on August 9, 2014. UPI/Bill Greenblatt | License Photo

Workers at the Dollar General Store put merchandise back on the shelves as large pieces of broken glass remain in place following a night of looting, rioting and arsons in Ferguson, Missouri on August 11, 2014. People are upset because of the Ferguson Police shooting and death of an unarmed black teenager Michael Brown on August 9, 2014. In all about 20 businesses sustained damage after a candlelight vigil turned violent. UPI/Bill Greenblatt | License Photo

Leaders talk with protestors outside of the Ferguson Police Department following a night of looting, rioting and arsons in Ferguson, Missouri on August 11, 2014. People are upset because of the Ferguson Police shooting and death of an unarmed black teenager Michael Brown on August 9, 2014. In all about 20 businesses sustained damage after a candlelight vigil turned violent. UPI/Bill Greenblatt | License Photo

Volunteers clean up debris on the parking lot of a QuikTrip gas station after demonstrators looted and set fire to the building when a candlelight vigil became violent in Ferguson, Missouri on August 11, 2014. People are protesting the police shooting of the unarmed black teenager Michael Brown on August 9, 2014. UPI/Bill Greenblatt | License Photo

Protesters are greeted by a line of Missouri State Police during a protest march on the police station in Ferguson, Missouri on August 11, 2014. People are protesting the police shooting of the unarmed black teenager Michael Brown on August 9, 2014. Rioting and looting took place in the community on August 10. UPI/Bill Greenblatt | License Photo

St. Louis County Police stand guard at a QuikTrip Gas station following a night of looting, rioting and arsons in Ferguson, Missouri on August 11, 2014. People are upset because of the Ferguson Police shooting and death of an unarmed black teenager Michael Brown on August 9, 2014. In all about 20 businesses sustained damage after a candlelight vigil turned violent. UPI/Bill Greenblatt | License Photo

St. Louis County Police stand guard as firefighters return to the QuikTrip Gas station to put out hot spots following a night of looting, rioting and arsons in Ferguson, Missouri on August 11, 2014. People are upset because of the Ferguson Police shooting and death of an unarmed black teenager Michael Brown on August 9, 2014. In all about 20 businesses sustained damage after a candlelight vigil turned violent. UPI/Bill Greenblatt | License Photo

The windows at the Northland Chop Suey are shattered as traffic drives by following a night of looting, rioting and arsons in Ferguson, Missouri on August 11, 2014. People are upset because of the Ferguson Police shooting and death of an unarmed black teenager Michael Brown on August 9, 2014. In all about 20 businesses sustained damage after a candlelight vigil turned violent. UPI/Bill Greenblatt | License Photo

Firefighters and police remain at the scene of the burnt out QuikTrip Gas station following a night of looting, rioting and arsons in Ferguson, Missouri on August 11, 2014. People are upset because of the Ferguson Police shooting and death of an unarmed black teenager Michael Brown on August 9, 2014. In all about 20 businesses sustained damage after a candlelight vigil turned violent. UPI/Bill Greenblatt | License Photo

Demonstrators chant on the grounds of a burnt out QuikTrip Gas station following a night of looting, rioting and arsons in Ferguson, Missouri on August 11, 2014. People are upset because of the Ferguson Police shooting and death of an unarmed black teenager Michael Brown on August 9, 2014. In all about 20 businesses sustained damage after a candlelight vigil turned violent. UPI/Bill Greenblatt | License Photo

Protestor Allen Smith holds his sign up for passing traffic as he stands outside of the QuikTrip Gas station that was burned after a night of looting, rioting and arsons in Ferguson, Missouri on August 11, 2014. People are upset because of the Ferguson Police shooting and death of an unarmed black teenager Michael Brown on August 9, 2014. In all about 20 businesses sustained damage after a candlelight vigil turned violent. UPI/Bill Greenblatt | License Photo

Sightseers get a closer look at a QuikTrip Gas station following a night of looting, rioting and arsons in Ferguson, Missouri on August 11, 2014. People are upset because of the Ferguson Police shooting and death of an unarmed black teenager Michael Brown on August 9, 2014. In all about 20 businesses sustained damage after a candlelight vigil turned violent. UPI/Bill Greenblatt | License Photo

Arianna Whiteside leads demonstrators as they confront a wall of police during a protest march to the Ferguson Police Department in Ferguson, Missouri on August 11, 2014. People are upset because of the Ferguson Police shooting and death of an unarmed black teenager Michael Brown on August 9, 2014. 20 businesses sustained damage after a candlelight vigil turned violent with arsons, lootings and vandallism. UPI/David Broome | License Photo

Protesters are greeted by a wall of police officers after a march to the Ferguson Police department in Ferguson, Missouri on August 11, 2014. People are upset because of the Ferguson Police shooting and death of an unarmed black teenager Michael Brown on August 9, 2014. In all about 20 businesses sustained damage after a candlelight vigil turned violent. UPI/Bill Greenblatt | License Photo

Members of the St. Louis County Police Department remain on the lot of the QuikTrip Gas station in Ferguson, Missouri on August 11, 2014. People are upset because of the Ferguson Police shooting and death of an unarmed black teenager Michael Brown on August 9, 2014. In all about 20 businesses sustained damage after a candlelight vigil turned violent. UPI/Bill Greenblatt | License Photo

A woman protester holds an oversized photo of Missouri Governor Jay Nixon during a demonstration at the Ferguson Police department in Ferguson, Missouri on August 11, 2014. People are upset because of the Ferguson Police shooting and death of an unarmed black teenager Michael Brown on August 9, 2014. In all about 20 businesses sustained damage after a candlelight vigil turned violent. UPI/Bill Greenblatt | License Photo

St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney Bob McCulloch talks with reporters in Clayton, Missouri on August 11, 2014, about the 32 people that were arrested for looting during a riot in Ferguson, Missouri on August 10, 2014. People are upset because of the Ferguson Police shooting and death of an unarmed black teenager Michael Brown on August 9, 2014. In all about 20 businesses sustained damage after a candlelight vigil turned violent. UPI/Bill Greenblatt | License Photo

Michael Brown is shown in his high school graduation in this undated file photo in Ferguson, Missouri on August 11, 2014. People are upset because of the Ferguson Police shooting and death of the unarmed Brown on August 9, 2014. On August 10, 2014 20 businesses sustained damage after a candlelight vigil for Brown turned violent. UPI/Bill Greenblatt | License Photo

Ferguson Police Chief Tom Jackson talks with a reporter in Ferguson,Missouri on August 12, 2014. Jackson said he will not release the name of the officer that shot and killed unarmed teen Michael Brown on August 9, 2014. UPI/Bill Greenblatt | License Photo

Protesters take to the streets for a third straight night, gathered to protest the fatal shooting of teen Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri on August 12, 2014. UPI/David Broome | License Photo

Elise Park, of Ferguson, Missouri and her daughter Lisa volunteer to help pick up trash in the heart of an area that has seen three straight nights of protesting and violence in Ferguson, Missouri on August 13, 2014. Protesters have come out to object to the police shooting death of teen Michael Brown. UPI/David Broome | License Photo

A makeship memorial has been established in the middle of the street in Ferguson, Missouri for the teen that was slain there by a Ferguson policeman on August 9, 2014. Michael Brown was shot numerous times after an apparent stuggle with the officer, setting off several days of protests and vandalism. UPI/David Broome | License Photo

Protesters take to the streets to march for a forth staight night in Ferguson, Missouri on August 13, 2014. Residents of the St. Louis suburb are upset for the police shooting death of teen MichaelBrown on August 9, 2014. UPI/David Broome | License Photo

Protesters take to the streets for a third straight night in Ferguson, Missouri on August 12, 2014. They have gathered to protest the fatal shooting of teen Michael Brown by a Ferguson Police officer. UPI/David Broome | License Photo

FERGUSON, Mo., Aug. 13 (UPI) -- Reporters for the Washington Post and Huffington Post were arrested Wednesday at a McDonald's while writing about protests and riots taking place in Ferguson, Mo.

Wesley Lowery, of the Washington Post, and Ryan Reilly, of Huffington Post, were both inside the restaurant Wednesday evening when SWAT officers entered, handcuffed and booked the two reporters.


They were both writing and recharging their electronics when the officers entered and asked them to leave.

Reilly posted a photo of the SWAT members inside the McDonald's shortly before he was arrested.

SWAT just invade McDonald's where I'm working/recharging. Asked for ID when I took photo. pic.twitter.com/FOIsMnBwHy — Ryan J. Reilly (@ryanjreilly) August 13, 2014

Lowery and Reilly both said they were later released without much explanation. They recounted their experiences on Twitter.

Officers decided we weren't leaving McDonalds quickly enough, shouldn't have been taping them. — Wesley Lowery (@WesleyLowery) August 14, 2014

Officers slammed me into a fountain soda machine because I was confused about which door they were asking me to walk out of — Wesley Lowery (@WesleyLowery) August 14, 2014

Got no explaination at any point why in custody other than "trespassing" - at a mcdonalds where we were customers — Wesley Lowery (@WesleyLowery) August 14, 2014

I'm emotional, but need to note: Ryan and I are fine. Have seen people in Ferguson hurt by gas/rubber bullets. This wasn't that RELATED Anonymous 'hacktivists' get into city of Ferguson's websites Sunday night August 14, 2014

Apparently, in America, in 2014, police can manhandle you, take you into custody, put you in cell & then open the door like it didn't happen — Wesley Lowery (@WesleyLowery) August 14, 2014

"We're sorry for treating you this way on Saint Louis." -- local newsman who just interviewed me. #Ferguson — Ryan J. Reilly (@ryanjreilly) August 14, 2014

Marty Baron, the executive editor of the Washington Post, issued a statement regarding the incident:

"Wesley has briefed us on what occurred, and there was absolutely no justification for his arrest. He was illegally instructed to stop taking video of officers. Then he followed officers' instructions to leave a McDonald's — and after contradictory instructions on how to exit, he was slammed against a soda machine and then handcuffed. That behavior was wholly unwarranted and an assault on the freedom of the press to cover the news. The physical risk to Wesley himself is obvious and outrageous. After being placed in a holding cell, he was released with no charges and no explanation. He was denied information about the names and badge numbers of those who arrested him. We are relieved that Wesley is going to be OK. We are appalled by the conduct of police officers involved."

Mike Brown died Saturday after being shot multiple times by police while his hands were in the air. He was unarmed.