Local News Moment Of The Day: Reporter Attacked During Live Report On Animal Cruelty

by Josh Feldman | 11:20 am, July 27th, 2011

» 9 comments

It was a quiet night in Philadelphia. The crickets were chirping, the lights were dimming, and police were raiding a local residency housing several dead dogs, a live alligator, and a comatose partridge in a pear tree. (Okay, maybe not that last one.)

Police entered the home when they spotted a naked man and dead iguana outside the house, and discovered the man was hoarding animals. But according to The Blaze, that was the least bizarre part of a local news report involving animal cruelty in the area.

Fox29 reporter Chris O’Connell was reporting live on the case at the scene of the crime. He described an “extreme stench” coming from inside the building, and was about to continue his report when he was suddenly attacked. In the following video, you’ll see video journalist Dave Edwards step in to pull the man off him.

Later on, O’Connell explained that the man was the son of the house’s owner, and attacked him because they were covering his father’s activities. In the following video, O’Connell finishes up his report, mentioning that the owner has been arrested for animal hoarding, and showing footage of neighbors complaining about the poor conditions. He also mentions that police are questioning his attacker in the background.

The attacker was eventually arrested, and is expected to be charged with assault and resisting arrest.

h/t The Blaze

assault, Chris O'Connell, Fox29, local news, Philadelphia

http://pulse.yahoo.com/_ECYBIXNKAG5E46BC3GCJQPA7CQ well_its_no_cannibal_holocaust

This is pure unadulterated Socialism.
Anonymous

ewe.

i wonder if the son is liable for some neglect there as well… sounds like the father might be a wee bit insane or ill. how can you let that go on for so long? ugh!
Anonymous

I wonder if they called in Billy and his pothead brother to exterminate the bugs after they got the animals out.
Laurence Glavin

I was shocked, SHOCKED that the TV “reporter” used the term “me and my photographer” as the subject of one sentence, and later said “hopefully” when he meant “I hope”. So the real crime here is the bad grammar of Mr. O’Connell. This is something up with which I will not put!
Anonymous

I think the son has worse problems at this point. I understand wanting to defend your dad, but man that kid was a fucking idiot. They both seems insane to me.
LibelFreeZone

The problem is so called journalists who think they can show up, unannounced, at someone’s property and begin to talk about them in derogatory terms. Who do these reporters think they are?
http://games-survival.com Justplaythegame

This is obviously a mental case issue, dimentia comes to mind. People age and do fall into this life style. It’s nothing new and if your not in the real world but live in your glass bubble, I guess it becomes news? Why is it portrayed as news with son attacking the reporter and not one of neglect of elderly? That would make a better story but not as good for shock and awe excitement. which would be a lacking example of journalism by the article writer here on Mediaite. Just in my opinion ofcourse.
http://games-survival.com Justplaythegame

This is obviously a mental case issue, dimentia comes to mind. People age and do fall into this life style. It’s nothing new and if your not in the real world but live in your glass bubble, I guess it becomes news? Why is it portrayed as news with son attacking the reporter and not one of neglect of elderly? That would make a better story but not as good for shock and awe excitement. which would be a lacking example of journalism by the article writer here on Mediaite. Just in my opinion ofcourse.
Anonymous

You’re hilarious and a good writer to boot. Me and my girlfriend both got a kick out of it, and it’s something up with which we gladly put!