By Carlos Miller
Every reporter has been harassed at one point or another for doing their job, but rarely is it so comical as in this incident in Las Vegas when KTNV reporter Steve Ryan was doing the “man on the street” coverage of the death of Michael Jackson.
Apparently, there were still a few minutes of airwaves left that had not been filled with Michael Jackson stories, so they went out and sought drunks for their opinions.
What’s funny is not necessarily the drunk that ends up on video nor the way Ryan pushes him away, but the looks of shock on the faces of the anchors after Ryan slaps the drunk in the face.
Popularity: 1% [?]
Fernandez, as I mentioned in a 
20 responses so far ↓
1 Devon // Jul 9, 2009 at 9:04 AM
Ok, we can hardly call that a slap. Still funny, but I wanna see what happened after they cut camera from him.
2 Difster // Jul 9, 2009 at 10:49 AM
I was going to say the same thing, it wasn’t really a slap, he pushed his face away. It’s hardly what you expect to see on cam though.
3 jones // Jul 9, 2009 at 10:53 AM
That is an assault and the reporter should be charged. He should sue them.
4 Scott // Jul 9, 2009 at 11:17 AM
If it was an officer who tased the guy you’d be singing his praise jones. You’re act is tiresome kid.
5 Scott Chamness // Jul 9, 2009 at 12:29 PM
Actually, it appears that jones doesn’t even realize what the word “assault” means in legal terms. If he did, he would realize there wasn’t any.
I found this hilarious.
6 Tom // Jul 9, 2009 at 12:55 PM
I understand that the reporters are just trying to do their jobs, but when are the news agencies gonna realize that if you want to do your business in public, that you need to deal with the people in public? It reminded me of this video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h_trGNU86k0 “I don’t bother you at work,” says the reporter. Yeah, that’s because I work in an office where you have no right to be.
7 jones // Jul 9, 2009 at 2:05 PM
I would be singing the officer’s praises if it was justified but this reporter had no right to slap the guy. Just because he is working with a camera doesn’t mean he is above the law. If he can’t handle a drunk with a little more professionalism maybe he shouldn’t be working in public.
8 genewitch // Jul 9, 2009 at 2:45 PM
jones: it’s not an assault if you actually contact the person. It’s battery. I thought you used to be a cop? Or do you just like making up charges?
Distinction between battery and assault:
The overt behavior of an assault might be Person A advancing upon Person B by chasing after him and swinging a fist toward his head. The overt behavior of battery might be A actually striking B.
Battery requires (1) a volitional act that (2) results in a harmful or offensive contact with another person and (3) is committed with the intent to cause a harmful or offensive contact or with a reckless disregard as to whether such contact will result. Assault is an attempted battery or the act of intentionally placing a person in apprehension of a harmful or offensive contact with his or her person.
In some places, assault is the threat of violence against another while aggravated assault is the threat with the clear and present ability and willingness to carry it out. Likewise, battery is undesired touching of another, while aggravated battery is touching of another with or without a tool or weapon with attempt to harm or restrain.
Fucking tool.
9 jones // Jul 9, 2009 at 3:37 PM
Way to avoid the real issue gene, this reporter had no right to slap that guy but let’s ignore that because he was working with a camera so he is above the law. If he thinks violence is the way to deal with drunks they should take his press badge.
10 Scott Chamness // Jul 9, 2009 at 4:03 PM
Alright jones, lets hear your solution to this, and remember, your live on air, with probably at least a few thousand viewers, while a drunk guy is stumbling into you after you’ve repeatedly pushed him away. Go ahead, I’m all ears.
You know, I don’t understand why people drink anyway, doesn’t anyone understand how idiotic it makes them look?
11 jones // Jul 9, 2009 at 4:12 PM
gene – Assault is an attempted battery or the act of intentionally placing a person in apprehension of a harmful or offensive contact with his or her person.
Don’t you think a person would be in apprehension of harmful or offensive contact after being slapped in the face?
Jones 1
Gene 0
12 Karl Mansoor // Jul 9, 2009 at 4:29 PM
Hi Jones,
I couldn’t help but notice your comment at #7.
You said, “If he can’t handle a drunk with a little more professionalism maybe he shouldn’t be working in public.”
Couldn’t we apply that same thought to police officers who fail to use professionalism when they encounter the public as in many of the examples seen on this blog?
13 jones // Jul 9, 2009 at 4:32 PM
They are in a public place, if the guy is interfering with your report either cut away or just deal with it. I think that would have been a pretty entertaining interview if he decided to talk to the guy instead of attacking him.
Because he is live on the air you make it sound like he has some type of authority. Your going to run into drunks in Vegas, that shouldn’t surprise anybody, deal with it without violence.
14 Karl Mansoor // Jul 9, 2009 at 4:44 PM
Jones,
I don’t know if your response at #13 was for my question or not. It doesn’t seem to answer it if you meant it to.
Don’t read any more into my question to you at #12 than what is there. If you are inclined to answer, just do so at face value.
15 Karl Mansoor // Jul 9, 2009 at 4:59 PM
Seriously Jones, look how vigorously you defended the officer depicted in Carlos’ post from 2/25/09 , Overly aggressive Chicago cop caught on citizen video
It seems now you have a vastly different standard for a reporter who is likely not trained how to defuse tension and not empowered by the government nor required to protect and serve the public.
16 genewitch // Jul 9, 2009 at 5:44 PM
jones @ 11
After being slapped in the face, the drunk was a victim of battery. Not assault.
jones: 0
Nice try though. And i could care less about some reporter pushing/slapping a drunk. Nevermind the fact that public intoxication is a crime in and of itself. That may or may not have a bearing on the legality of bitchslapping and/or shoving someone that is invading your personal space.
By the way, you’ll note that the drunk guy actually grabbed the reporter’s arm first. it’s not like the news-guy escalated it to some obscene level, like EVERY VIDEO OF COPS POSTED ON THIS WEBSITE.
there’s your clotting rebuttal, jones.
17 Carlos Miller // Jul 9, 2009 at 6:56 PM
Am I the only guy who sees the humor in this?
18 Karl Mansoor // Jul 9, 2009 at 7:09 PM
I’m with you on seeing the humor from the expressions of the news gals.
Personally, I also see some humor in some of the contradictory comments here.
19 Scott Chamness // Jul 9, 2009 at 10:32 PM
No, it’s not just you Carlos. I found it hysterical. Made my day, as did helping to point out what an idiot jones was.
20 Michaelk42 // Jul 18, 2009 at 7:01 PM
Crap, I missed this one before now.
HAHAHAHAHA
Yes, it is hilarious. As is jonesy taking his normal “hard line” on who can do what. XD
Leave a Comment