IRAQ VETERAN RECOUNTS ARREST, DETENTION IN SIERRA LEONE NEW YORK (2006-07-14) Michael Chemidlin of Scotch Plains, a Vietnam veteran who also served in Iraq, went to Sierra Leone in April to visit friends he met in Iraq and proselytize on behalf of his church. On April 29th, he was walking past the U-N-Sierra Leone war crimes tribunal building with a friend who suggested he take a picture of it. The next thing both men knew, security officers emerged from the building and eventually brought them to police headquarters. They were interrogated for several hours and officials took Chemidlin's camera, then later arrested and eventually charged him with conspiracy. He was set free by a magistrate, then re-arrested and taken to a maximum-security prison. He was detained there for more than two months before being released last week.