if its in a public location it is perfectly legal. However, since a person is innocent until proven guilty, I'm not sure it would be ethical to post it publicly without making the person being arrested unidentifiable.
Absolutely legal and ethical to take a photo as long as you don't interfere with their duties or create unrest with your activities. How you use it though can cross some lines.
I would not publish the photo if you can clearly see the face of the person who is being arrested. But that is just me and my ethical rules in photography...
@bonniebouman If they don't like it, all the more reason to take it. Accountability is important, especially in law enforcement. If it does get heavy handed, the arrestee may well thanks you for that little piece of evidence.
If it's in a public place then it's legal. The only thing I say is....put yourself in the shoes of the person being arrested and their family. How would you feel if that was you being photographed. As Jeff @jsw0109 said you are innocent until proven guilty. I would be very careful. If the Police feel that you are intruding they may well arrest you...worse still...damage your camera gear.
@kareenking I exepct that it depends on where you live. In the UK (and Europe generally I think) and the USA you can take the picture as long as you aren't interfering with the Police in the execution of their duty, or causing any breach of the peace/civil unrest kind of thing.
How you use the picture afterward might need a bit of thought. It could be used in such a way as to imply or say that the person was a terrible criminal etc. etc. and be libellous.
its fine to shoot the scene if as others have said every effort has been made to hide the identity of the person being arrested, as the person has not at that time been formally convicted it could if used be seen as defamation of character and that could lead to problems, its why a lot of real life police shows on telly blur out faces on those that haven't given their consent.
It depends where you are. In some countries you aren't even allowed to take photographs of police officers. Germany is one place this is true, I believe.
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How you use the picture afterward might need a bit of thought. It could be used in such a way as to imply or say that the person was a terrible criminal etc. etc. and be libellous.