A TV news reporter and his security guard were pepper-sprayed in an attempted robbery Wednesday afternoon at San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park, the second time in two months the same reporter was victimized while on assignment.
The would-be robbery happened as the crew was shooting a story near the park’s Stow Lake Boathouse at about 1:20 p.m., San Francisco Police told KCBS Radio. That’s when a suspect pepper-sprayed them, grabbed their camera and headed to a waiting getaway car driven by another person.
The suspect dropped the camera as he fled the scene.
"A chemical, possibly pepper spray...incapacitated the victims," police explained. First responders were called to assist the crew, who weren’t identified by officers.
They were treated for non-life-threatening injuries.
In a story posted about the attempted robbery, KPIX-5 confirmed the crew works for the station. "After the robbers stole the camera, the security guard chased them," the station said. "While fleeing one of the robbers was hit by their own getaway car and dropped the camera."
The suspects fled the scene in a Chevrolet SS with Nevada license plates.
"Both the reporter and the guard are okay," according to the station.
While not identifying the victims in Wednesday's incident, KPIX-5 said it was the "same reporter" who recently had his camera stolen in a similar incident at Twin Peaks. Last month, KPIX-5 Reporter Don Ford was robbed of his camera while doing a story on car break-ins at the tourist-heavy spot. He wasn’t hurt in the encounter and a 34-year-old San Francisco man was later arrested.
The incident is under investigation.
Anyone with information is asked to call 415-575-4444 or text TIP411.
Related
