Cop shielding Villaraigosa gets rough with reporter

LA Times ^ | 8/3/07 | David Zahniser and Duke Helfand, Times Staff Writers

[BurbankKarl]

Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa today sought to put the scandal surrounding his personal life behind him, one day after the Telemundo network suspended his girlfriend, newscaster Mirthala Salinas, for covering the mayor while they were romantically involved.

But a Villaraigosa news conference at the Port of Los Angeles ended chaotically, with a port police sergeant shoving a television reporter against a cargo container as she attempted to pursue the mayor.

Only minutes earlier, Villaraigosa had voiced hope that the conclusion of Telemundo's review of Salinas' conduct would allow him to move forward.

Yet even as the mayor expressed those sentiments, he took questions on whether his poll numbers had dropped (he said he didn't know), whether he spoke to Telemundo for its review (he said he hadn't) and whether he felt responsible for the disciplinary actions that befell Salinas and three management-level employees at Telemundo and its local affiliate, KVEA Channel 54.

---

"How come we're not allowed to talk to him?" one reporter barked.

"Why the suddenly limited access?" another demanded.

When the officers broke their formation, more than a dozen journalists starting running across a parking lot in pursuit of the mayor as he departed.

Spanish-language television reporter Alicia Unger was at the front of the pack, and as she approached one 20-foot container, Port Police Sgt. Kevin McCloskey shoved her into the side of it, further infuriating reporters, who began shouting.

"That's wrong," one television reporter screamed.

Another said: "You can't hit a woman like that."

A visibly shaken Unger, who reports for Azetca America Channel 54, then shouted at the officer: "Why are you pushing me?"

Reporters and camera operators surrounded McCloskey demanding to know why he pushed Unger. McCloskey told them to contact port police as another officer led him away.

[BenLurkin]

The Mayor should ahve a press confrence where he comes out of the closet: as an “Adulterer-American”.

[doug from upland]

Get the popcorn and let’s enjoy this.

[BurbankKarl]

This is all over the news already...and it was caught on film by all the stations....assaulting a hispanic language reporter!

hahaha...

now maybe Hillary’s people will just leave LA

[NormsRevenge]

Just roughing up reporters the Mayor won’t rough up in public.

I hope charges are filed if warranted.

[OCC]

a port police sergeant shoving a television reporter against a cargo container as she attempted to pursue the mayor.

Was she shouting "Tony, you promised you would call! I forgive you!"?

[BurbankKarl]

http://www.breitbart.tv/?p=3921

[JamesP81]

Reporters like that annoy me so much that I’m having trouble conjuring any sympathy for her.

[ohioman]

LA is now part of Northern Mexico.

[BurbankKarl]

Notice the two containers were set up to block view of the SUV’s the Mayor’s posse arrived to talk about clean burning trucks in the harbor.

[VeniVidiVici]

“Azteca TV” going after a Mexican thug? Bizarro world.

[NormsRevenge]

Reporters like that annoy me so much that I’m having trouble conjuring any sympathy for her.

—

Oh yeah. Maybe we should lock ‘em up .. before Mayor V knocks ‘em up. ;-).

[ibbryn]

The mayor will hang that cop out to dry.

[bboop]

oh good, it was caught on film? Mayor in jail for battery.

[60Gunner]

The Mayor needs to change his name to Ben Dayho.

[HKMk23]

The Mayor needs to change his name to Ben Dayho.

OOoooo! TAHT'D leave a MARK!

As it stands, though, he's made himself look a whole lot the like your run-of-the-mill corrupt Mexican government official.

<SARC>Guess he's getting himself prepped for how things will operate after the Reconquista.</SARC>

[ken21]

the mayor is going to implode before his term is over.

si.

[itsamelman]

When he's not bangin' 'em, he's bangin' 'em into shipping containers.

**************************************************************

 

What happened this morning?

 

 

 

Earlier today, a television reporter was shoved against a cargo container by one of the Mayor's bodyguards. Watch this video clip for full context and vote on the appropriate headline below.

Pick the headline

• Mayoral Bodyguard Blocks Bloodthirsty Press Mob
• Television Reporter Manhandled by Unruly Officer

Created on August 3, 2007

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Labels: mayor antonio villaraigosa, media

 

 

 

  http://mayorsam.blogspot.com/

[ken21]

this is an incredible story!

imagine a guy the size of that cop shoving a slender woman into a metal cargo container.

interesting, today the lost angeles times print ed did NOT show a picture of this.

[winodog]

Norte Baja