At a Joe Miller for Senate campaign event today in Alaska, members of Miller’s private security team ‘arrested‘ journalist Tony Hopfinger of the Alaska Dispatch. Hopfinger later told local TV news station KTUU that he was asking questions when he was told by Miller’s security detail that he was under arrest and placed in handcuffs. The security guards kept Hopfinger in custody pending the arrival of Anchorage police. But when police arrived they released Hopfinger and said no charges would be filed.

William Fulton, one of Miller’s security guards, released a statement claiming that Hopfinger became belligerent and menacing to the candidate while asking about the scandal surrounding Miller’s work as city attorney for Fairbanks North Star Borough in 2007 and 2008. The security guards were apparently part of a team provided by “Drop Zone”, the Anchorage-based private security firm hired by the campaign.

Miller said last week that he would no longer answer press questions about his personal or professional background.