Radio Reporter Assaulted Near School

Los Angeles: A Los Angeles radio reporter was assaulted this morning when a man drove a sedan at the reporter, then later tried to take the reporter’s recording equipment.

Alexander (Sandy) Wells, a reporter for McIntyre in the Morning on KABC 790 AM, was calling his station around 7:30 AM when he saw a sedan coming toward him out of his peripheral vision.

"Wells at first thought, ‘Why is this guy driving so fast with all these kids around?’" said Detective Charles Markel of the Hollenbeck Detective Division. "Then he realized the car was coming for him."

Wells had just finished trying to interview parents, students, and administrators at the Academia Semillas del Pueblo Charter School, which was across the street from where he was standing, in the 4700 block of Huntington Drive in El Sereno.

Wells was able to get out of the way of the nondescript silver sedan and ran to his nearby car. The sedan followed him and stopped. A Hispanic man in his twenties got out of the sedan and tried to take Wells’ recording equipment, which was slung over his shoulder.

Wells was able to fend off the assailant, who drove away with only the audio tape from Wells’ recorder.

"There were a number of witnesses to this assault," said Detective Markel. "We’d like anyone who saw what happened to call us."

Anyone with information is asked to call Detective Markel at 323-526-3008. On weekends and during off-hours, call the 24-hour toll free number at 1-877-LAWFULL (529-3855).