From Water Main Break to Breaking Cop's Chops

We have one word for this story: SHEESH. The Daily News reports that a WCBS 2 reporter was arrested on Wednesday. While that sounds juicy, it's not quite dramatic. Brendan Keefe was covering a Queens water main break and standing in the middle of the street. Here's their alleged exchange:

"Sir, get out of the street," the officers told Brendan Keefe over a loudspeaker in East Elmhurst, a source said.

"Why don't you get out of your warm, f-----g car instead of saying it over your microphone?" Keefe told the police after walking a block to their marked van, a source said.

Heh. Keefe was charged with "obstructing governmental administration" and issued a desk appearance ticket. WCBS 2 didn't say whether Keefe would fight it.

The WCBS 2 talent bios are pretty extensive: You find out what sign reporters are, what their favorite food is, and what their height is. Keefe's "dream job" is "street reporter for life." Maybe he should cover the police!

Contact the author of this article or email tips@gothamist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By Jen Chung in News on January 19, 2007 9:55 AM

Comments [rss]

M

I was arrested for the same thing on Weds, for not allowing a transit cop to write me a meter ticket because I had just pulled up was still in the car on the phone and he didn't care and was starting to ticket me.. I CALLED NYPD and I got arrested. Along with the OGA charge, there was public nuisance and resisting arrest. Reisiting arrest, maybe freaking out, middle aged working mom and volunteer arrewted for opening her mouth! They put me through the system. Basically you have no rights when it comes to nypd, you are a perp and that is it. You are not allowed to speak up or they will arrest you. This is not america

Maria Dapontes-Dougherty

I was arrested for the same thing on Wednesday, for not allowing a traffic agent to write me a parking meter ticket because I was in the car on the phone for a couple of minutes after pulling up and according to him was required to fill the meter immediately. I called the NYPD and i got arrested same charges, along with reisisting arrest and public nuisance. Basically you are a pero, not a citizen and you better not speak up. I went through the system it is horrible.

joe

Brendan Keefe is just another moron at See BS. These "reporters" are jackals and vultures.

Lets see, you're being attacked by jihadis and you need help getting down the stairs from your office building. Who is going to walk up and help you, NYPD & FDNY or some haircut looking for a story.

Keefe should not only get the bologna sandwiches, he could do a story on being the cell's "date".

anonymass

jammer, I thought it was the Scorpios you were supposed tiptoe around.

anonymass

ABC Girl, you just inadvertantly turned me on.

jammer

ha, he's a virgo and his favorite musician is 50 cent. go figure he cussed the cop out hahaha.

ABC Girl

blue,

Suck my big toe.

blue

"With all the criminals walking around..."

Right. They have a sign of their forehead that says "I'm a criminal!" Obviously the only law enforcement ABC Girl knows came from CSI and COPS!

Tim N.

#3 - it was sarcasm, D, sarcasm.

hs

...the NYPD officer who called his home with a threat. This cop forgot to put his caller ID block on and Mr. Keefe had it...

Haha, classy! And classic.

Papercutninja

i thought they served bologna sandwiches in the Tombs. I guess like everything else in the city, they have to go upscale.

S.D.

While I don't think he should have been arrested, Brendan Keefe should have known better.

tit for tatters, i'm shattered

If the NYPD persues this, then Mr. Keefe should persue the NYPD officer who called his home with a threat. This cop forgot to put his caller ID block on and Mr. Keefe had it.

this was after his stories on illegal NYPD parking.

God Bless you Sir.

Questions & Answers

untrue patriot,

Thank you for revealing this. It makes total sense. Very few people take the time to dig deep enough into a story and I'm glad you did.

I personally don't like NY cops. My few experiences with them --as well as the few experiences friends have gone through themselves--have shown me that they are arrogant and stick up for each other even when they are in the wrong. With all the criminals walking around, they're spending time arresting a reporter who was doing his job. Gotta love that NY tax dollars are being put to good use and saving us from such "hard violent criminals like Brendan Keefe".

ABC Girl

untrue patriot,

Thank you for revealing this. It makes total sense. Very few people take the time to dig deep enough into a story and I'm glad you did.

I personally don't like NY cops. My few experiences with them --as well as the few experiences friends have gone through themselves--have shown me that they are arrogant and stick up for each other even when they are in the wrong. With all the criminals walking around, they're spending time arresting a reporter who was doing his job. Gotta love that NY tax dollars are being put to good use and saving us from such "hard violent criminals like Brendan Keefe".

untrue patriot

If you guys delve deeper, Keefe was the only reporter with balls enough to report on parking abuses by the NYPD. The NYPD had it in for him since then.

God Bless you Mr. Keefe.

D.

Wow, the commenters here can be really stupid . What could possibly be MORE relevant and on-point for Gothamist to cover than a story about a reporter for a NYC broadcast getting arrested by the NYPD.

And the reporter is a jackass. If the cops tell you to get out of the stret, get out of the street. Too bad he didn't have to do 24 hours in the Tombs, eating bad salami sandwiches and water-y Kool Aid.