New York – Police say a widely-watched New York City consumer affairs reporter known for his on-camera confrontations was assaulted while on assignment in the Bronx.
Authorities say that WPIX-TV investigative reporter Howard Thompson and photographer John Frasse were attacked Tuesday in the borough’s Belmont neighborhood.
Police say Wednesday that 36-year-old Jose Lebron-Pimentel was arrested and charged with assault after hitting Thompson with a baseball bat on the hip outside a car dealership.
Police say Howard and Frasse weren’t seriously injured.
Contact information for Lebron-Pimentel wasn’t immediately available and it wasn’t clear if he had an attorney who could comment on his behalf.
Thompson’s “Help Me Howard” segments regularly feature him confronting landlords, business owners and others on behalf of viewers. It wasn’t clear if Lebron-Pimentel was the subject of Thompson’s reporting.
As reported by Vos Iz Neias