A California man was arrested Tuesday on vandalism and battery charges after he was recorded on camera Monday attacking journalists outside his business in La Mesa, police said.
Peter Carzis, 76, of La Mesa, east of San Diego, is accused of “battering multiple reporters” during the “well-publicized altercation with members of the media” who tried to interview him outside his store, Peter’s Men’s Apparel, La Mesa police said.
Let our news meet your inbox. The news and stories that matters, delivered weekday mornings.
The reporters had gathered to question Carzis after videos posted on social media appeared to show him harassing women at his store, NBC San Diego reported. Police had announced Sunday that they were aware of one of the videos and were investigating.
Download the NBC News app for breaking news
Carzis appears to push at least two cameramen and to shout obscenities at the journalists outside his store in videos that have been posted on Twitter and widely shared online.
“You’re a bada–? Show me how bad you are, motherf—–,” Carzis told a cameraman.
La Mesa police canvassed the area in search of Carzis near his store late into Monday night after videos of the incident were posted. He was found early Tuesday.
He will be booked into the San Diego County Jail after being medically cleared, police said.
