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Kid reporter says Arizona marshal threatened her with jail

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PATAGONIA, Ariz. (AP) — A young reporter is receiving praise after writing about her encounter with a southern Arizona marshal who allegedly threatened to put her in jail.

Hilde Kate Lysiak posted video from her interaction Monday with Patagonia Marshal Joseph Patterson on her newspaper's website , Orange Street News.

In the video, the 12-year-old asks Patterson why he said she "could be thrown in juvie."

Patterson tells her it's against Arizona law to put his picture on the Internet. He then says though she identified herself as a reporter, she cannot follow law enforcement.

The town, which is roughly 20 miles (32 kilometers) from the Mexico border, said on its website it has "taken action" with Patterson.

Lysiak, who declined interview requests Friday, said on Twitter that her focus is on First Amendment rights.

Miss Lysiak is a reporter for the Orange Street News where she files multiple stories a week on topics ranging from petty theft and drug dealing in her small community, to issues as large as the border wall controversy. In her report on the border wall, she can be seen climbing back-and-forth over the fence between the United States and Mexico.