August 11, 2004
When 86 Year-Old Newsmen Attack
The police arrested 60 Minutes reporter Mike Wallace last night after allegedly lunging at an officer from the Taxi and Limousine Commission. The TLC inspectors were questioning Wallace's double-parked driver outside of Luke's (Third Avenue and East 79th Street), where Wallace was picking up a takeout order of meatloaf (Gothamist loves details like that). Wallace apparently "interfered" with the inspectors, with the TLC spokesman describing the situation as such:
He became overly assertive and was reported to be disrespectful to the inspectors. He was asked three times to step away from the vehicle and cease interfering. At one point Mr. Wallace appeared to lunge toward one of the two inspectors. The other inspector became concerned with his partner's safety and at that point cuffed Mr. Wallace.Amazing. The owner of Luke's, Luigi Militello, says that one of the inspectors told Wallace not to "give [him] any lip." Another restaurant owner nearby said the 86 year-old Wallace said, "I'm not giving any lip," and was later thrown against the car and cuffed, with the officer saying, "Anybody else?" Other witnesses agreed, saying that the TLC inspectors were throwing their power around. Wallace told the Post he hasn't been arrested since the 1968 Democrative Convention. Gothamist thinks that Mike Wallace is an inpsiration, because we can only hope that when we're 86 years old that we won't go down without a fight.
Here's the 60 Minutes website and a Museum.tv profile of Wallace. Wallace has admitted to having depression and participated in the HBO documentary about it, Dead Blue. And Christopher Plummer's portrayal of Wallace in The Insider is only one of many fine performances in that film.
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I was interning for a special unit of CBS 9 years ago which, at the time, produced a newsmagazine show for A+E called "20th Century with Mike Wallace." On one day when they were scheduled to shoot one of the segements in the studio, there must have been subway troubles because EVERYbody was late that morning including the receptionist, and I was stuck answering the phones.
Mike Wallace called and asked for the producer, and I told him he wasn't in yet. Then he asked for the assistant producer, then the execitive producer. I kept apologizing and explaining that nobody related to the shoot was in the office yet, and after going through the entire list of staff, he asked me when SOMEBODY would arrive to work that he could talk to about what they would be shooting that afternoon. I said "I'm sorry but I really don't know, Mr Wallace!" He responded with "Well, what DO you know, you little bitch?!" and hung up on me.
So yes, I believe that he could definitely be guilty of verbally abusing cops. He's a rude schmuck!
Alex,
Everyone can be rude at some time or another, including Mr. Wallace....It depends mostly on the circumstances.
But Mike Wallace a schmuck? You know now of what you speak.
Alex,
Everyone can be rude at some time or another, including Mr. Wallace....It depends mostly on the circumstances.
But Mike Wallace a schmuck? You know not of what you speak.
Alex,
Everyone can be rude at some time or another, including Mr. Wallace....It depends mostly on the circumstances.
But Mike Wallace a schmuck? You know not of what you speak.
BTW, when did being rude become a criminal offense?
Did I say [or even imply] that being rude was a criminal offense? I merely stated that I believe he certainly COULD have been abusive and/or 'lippy' to the cops and that he doesn't necessarily observe the boundaries of civil interpersonal communication when he's dealing with strangers or people who he believes are beneath him -- like cops and college interns [i.e. 'little bitches'] -- and backed up my *opinion* with a personal story to illustrate my point. It was common knowledge in the newsroom that he was a jerk. I had heard many appalling stories before I picked up the phone and spoke with him that day, and then I was subjected to the inappropriate jerkiness firsthand. [Before working at CBS I had always assumed he was a sweet little old man -- he looks like somebody's favorite grandpa!]
But I'll gladly swap the use of 'schmuck' for 'prick' or 'ass' if you were offended by my use of the term.
I think it is rather standard operating procedure for any cop to be on alert when someone comes up to them WHILE they are in the middle of interrogating someone. Had this been NYPD and a Black Man, they probably would have shot him.
Someone NEEDS to manhandle Mike Wallace, I think it is clear that the tired ass has been in not going to die.
I think there must be some law of science that people like Wallace, Barbara Walters and Ed Koch are just too ugly, boring and stupid to just die of natural causes.
Ummmm...well dearie, perhaps you haven't lived long enough to see what people are capable of doing to one another all in the name of AUTHORITY.
Many great cops out there to be sure, but lots and lots of hostile scumbags equipped with guns and badges. The fear perpetrated by the current administrations just puts everyone on edge. Cops have to be doubly careful not to over react especially on something as minor as this. Guess the cops can't take criticism. What happens when someone comes at them with a weapon...do they go off like a firecracker and start shooting everyone?
It is up to the citzenry to keep their eyes and ears open, and to express themselves when they see something going on that isn't right.
And whether Mr Wallace mouthed off to these two dinks is besides the point. They are TLC cops fer crissakes. SOunds like they over reacted very badly. Plus they are dummies for not knowing who he was. So there!
I wish television reporters would show more aggressiveness in covering the news. The seem to be adjunct public relations people for the government.
I have to admit I'm delighted about this. This jackass has been showing up at people's homes and places of business for decades, harrassing them on camera and then editing the footage to make them look bad. He's a fraud - and who would doubt for a moment that he'd deliberately try to antagonize two cops who were keeping him from his dinner?
Here's an idea: put the old bastard in a cell with Vinny "the Chin" Gigante, and make a reality show out of it.
Actually, both the TLC policeman/woman and Mr. Wallace were both in the wrong. The TLC worker definitely overreacted to an 86 year old man whether famous or not, and from what it sounds like Mr. Wallace may have gone over the edge with what he does for a living, persistently asking questions.
Now, everyone is allowed to have their opinion about any subject, it is America, but it sounds as though many of you are bringing outside personal experiences/beliefs to this topic rather than looking at the facts which occurred at that point in time.
Actually, both the TLC policeman/woman and Mr. Wallace were both in the wrong. The TLC worker definitely overreacted to an 86 years old man whether famous or not, and from what it sounds like Mr. Wallace may have gone over the edge with what he does for a living, persistently asking questions.
Now, everyone is allowed to have their opinion about any subject, it is America, but it sounds as though many of you are bringing outside personal experiences/beliefs to this topic rather than looking at the facts which occurred at that point in time.
Actually, both the TLC policeman/woman and Mr. Wallace were both in the wrong. The TLC worker definitely overreacted to an 86 years old man whether famous or not, and from what it sounds like Mr. Wallace may have gone over the edge with what he does for a living, persistently asking questions.
Now, everyone is allowed to have their opinion about any subject, it is America, but it sounds as though many of you are bringing outside personal experiences/beliefs to this topic rather than looking at the facts which occurred at that point in time.