CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- The video journalist arrested by Charleston Police after he took pictures of Santa Claus and a choir at the Town Center Mall said he filed a complaint with the department about the incident but that he just wants the charges dropped.

Scott Rensberger, 47, of Washington, D.C., is charged with battery on a police officer and resisting arrest, according to complaints filed in Kanawha County Magistrate Court.

According to the complaint, Rensberger slapped the hand of Charleston police Cpl. R.C. Basford as the officer attempted to block Rensberger from taking a picture of him on Dec. 7. Rensberger then "attempted to pull away" from the officer, Basford wrote in the complaint.

Rensberger said the officer grabbed at his camera and that he placed his other hand on the camera to keep it from falling. He said he was taking pictures to send to his girlfriend in Washington.

When he filed the complaint on Friday, Rensberger said he told police he was trying to grab the camera, not the officer's hand.

"They let me tell my whole story, didn't ask many questions. They told me that the police department will look into the matter very seriously," Rensberger said.

"I told them there was a window of opportunity for them to drop all charges and that we'll go from there. The longer this goes on the harder it is. You get lawyers involved. ... Basically, I'm innocent of all charges."

Rensberger, who was hired to take photos of government buildings as a subcontractor for the IRS, had just gotten back from taking photos of the Sidney L. Christie Federal Building in Huntington. He stopped at his hotel room, then went to the Charleston Town Center Mall to eat dinner and do some Christmas shopping at about 5 p.m.

"I took some pictures of the choir singing and I took some pictures of the Santa snow scene," he said. "I take my camera with me almost anywhere."

Rensberger is a freelance videographer and in 1991 won an Investigative Reporters and Editors award and was named National Press Photographers Association Photographer of the Year. He said he takes photos of all the places he visits and sends them to his girlfriend.

He went into a store to shop for a scarf for her when two men stopped him and told him he had taken a photo of one of their children with Santa Claus. He said he deleted the photos, but that when he walked back by the Santa Claus area, the two men were talking to Basford, who stopped him.

Rensberger said Basford asked him, "Why are you taking pictures of kids?"

"I can't believe you are asking me that," Rensberger said to the officer. "Do you mind if I take a picture of you?"

Rensberger said he then tried to snap a photo of Basford and that Basford grabbed at the camera.

This isn't Rensberger's first run-in with police while using a camera, as he said when originally interviewed by the Gazette.

Scott Rensberger, 47, of Washington, D.C., is charged with battery on a police officer and resisting arrest, according to complaints filed in Kanawha County Magistrate Court.

According to the complaint, Rensberger slapped the hand of Charleston police Cpl. R.C. Basford as the officer attempted to block Rensberger from taking a picture of him on Dec. 7. Rensberger then "attempted to pull away" from the officer, Basford wrote in the complaint.

Rensberger said the officer grabbed at his camera and that he placed his other hand on the camera to keep it from falling. He said he was taking pictures to send to his girlfriend in Washington.

When he filed the complaint on Friday, Rensberger said he told police he was trying to grab the camera, not the officer's hand.

"They let me tell my whole story, didn't ask many questions. They told me that the police department will look into the matter very seriously," Rensberger said.

"I told them there was a window of opportunity for them to drop all charges and that we'll go from there. The longer this goes on the harder it is. You get lawyers involved. ... Basically, I'm innocent of all charges."

Rensberger, who was hired to take photos of government buildings as a subcontractor for the IRS, had just gotten back from taking photos of the Sidney L. Christie Federal Building in Huntington. He stopped at his hotel room, then went to the Charleston Town Center Mall to eat dinner and do some Christmas shopping at about 5 p.m.

"I took some pictures of the choir singing and I took some pictures of the Santa snow scene," he said. "I take my camera with me almost anywhere."

Rensberger is a freelance videographer and in 1991 won an Investigative Reporters and Editors award and was named National Press Photographers Association Photographer of the Year. He said he takes photos of all the places he visits and sends them to his girlfriend.

He went into a store to shop for a scarf for her when two men stopped him and told him he had taken a photo of one of their children with Santa Claus. He said he deleted the photos, but that when he walked back by the Santa Claus area, the two men were talking to Basford, who stopped him.

Rensberger said Basford asked him, "Why are you taking pictures of kids?"

"I can't believe you are asking me that," Rensberger said to the officer. "Do you mind if I take a picture of you?"

Rensberger said he then tried to snap a photo of Basford and that Basford grabbed at the camera.

This isn't Rensberger's first run-in with police while using a camera, as he said when originally interviewed by the Gazette.

In 1994, he was arrested in Hawaii while attempting to cover Bill Gates' marriage. He was booked for investigation of trespassing but the charges were dropped when he agreed to leave the island.

"... I was working as a journalist at the time and I was there [at the mall] as a private citizen," Rensberger said. "I'm very proud of that. I took on these two powerful people and I won. And I'll do the same thing here and donate the proceeds to charity if it comes to that."

He sued Gates and Dole Food Co., which owned most of the island where the wedding was being held, according to an article at the time in the Seattle Times. Rensberger won a partial summary judgment against Gates and Dole Foods. The judge ruled he should have been allowed to film on public property.

As a part of the settlement, Rensberger received letters of apology from both Dole and Gates.

"I have zero interest in taking one dime from the taxpayers of West Virginia," Rensberger said. "If a jury awards any money, I'll donate every dime I win to some organization in Charleston. ... If the mall is guilty, that might be a different matter. I don't know what I would do with that."

Charleston Police Chief Brent Webster said the department filed a complaint about the incident on Rensberger's behalf after the story was first published in the Gazette last week. Police are still looking into what happened, he said.

"The main thing we want to do right now is find some witnesses," he said.

"We have a few that have come forward."

Webster asked that anyone who witnessed the incident call the department at 304-348-6826.

Rensberger said he just wants the charges dropped and for the situation to be over.

"They know they're wrong and I want the charges dropped," he said.

"The more this goes on and the more I have to defend myself, the harder it is to be nice to the police department."

Rensberger said he believes Basford's arrest was unlawful. He said he was never read his rights.

"I also believe he destroyed evidence," Rensberger said. "I believe I took a picture of him and he deleted the image. ... The camera works when I push the button."

Reach Gary Harki at gha...@wvgazette.com or 304-348-5163.