Slap-Happy Local Reporter Fights For His Parking Space

"Bad Boy" Vince DeMentri

NYC has a proud tradition of endlessly amusing local TV news anchors and reporters getting in trouble, from Adele Sammarco to Ernie Anastos to Rosanna Scotto, and today we have a new name to be added to that illustrious list. WPIX/Channel 11 reporter Vince DeMentri, who recently said he felt like "one of the bad boys, part of the '70s Oakland Raiders," is facing an assault charge for slapping the Bahamian UN ambassador’s chauffeur, in true NY-style, over a parking spot.

On Wednesday afternoon, DeMentri, 46, complained to driver Hurley Senanayake, who was waiting to pick up ambassador Paulette Bethel, that he was parked in an NYP zone, reserved for New York Press, on Third Avenue and East 41st Street near his WPIX office. When the driver refused to move, DeMentri allegedly slapped him across the face, and drove off. According to the Post, after filing a complaint with police, "the driver was treated at New York Hospital-Queens with pain and soreness to his cheek and neck." DeMentri was given a desk appearance ticket for third-degree assault.

This isn't the first piece of notoriety for DeMentri, who has bounced between several news stations during his career, despite never being convicted of any crimes. While with WCBS in 2001, he impersonated an ATF agent to get past police barricades at WTC; while in Philly at WCAU, he was suspended for an "angry run-in" with the local weatherman (over flooding reportage, no less!); in August 2008, he was accused of stealing items from a co-worker; and recently, he was forced to make an on-air correction after the Port Authority called him out over an erroneous story. Factoring in this latest incident, it looks like DeMentri's chicken is just about fucked.

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By Ben Yakas in News on May 21, 2010 4:33 PM

Comments [rss]

sowhtifithppnsitwll

SLAP HIM FOR ME!

Jen in Brooklyn

Note that the first time was when he impersonated an ATF agent. I remember that very well because he was INSIDE 7 WTC on September 11th not too long before it collapsed. He may have anger management issues, but that was some incredible reporting for which I can't help thinking his career has suffered since.

Gwinny

I work near the U.N. and can attest to the extreme parking/driving douchery exhibited by those with diplomatic plates. just sayin' is all.

gnipgnop

yup, and there's even more douchery behind the curtain - kinda felonious, definitely aholes. i rarely watch anymore. wpix really sucks. they need to bring back spiderman cartoons & the pix game..

gnipgnop

why is it local tv seems to breed so many of these self-obssessed small-penis bully types? wpix has a houseful of them too these days...

real good thing he ran up against some bahamian pussy boy who wants to sue and not punch, cos had it been a real man, vince woulda gotten his nutsack tied around his ears & pissed on 9 ways to Sunday. now that woulda been a real story & not this piece of shit third degree assault crap.

xgeyiph772

Maybe a cage match between Vince DeMentri and Arthur "what the fuck is your problem, man" Chi'en in WPIX Plaza? I'd pay money to see that, though Vince would wipe the plaza with the pretty Asian boy.

gnipgnop

total agreement on all fronts. in fact, suki the kashmiri grizzly would eat both of their lunches should they ever take her off her chain... a good undercard match could be marvin scott wearing his luchador mask vs. lou lopez the sports guy, or errr, ahhh, lolita lopez, since the operation of course.. sorry. not that there's anything wrong with that..

xgeyiph772

I've seen Marvin lumber out of his Hyundai with his Channel 11 vanity plates, which is pretty funny. Suki is my Shaolin gurl, however. Don't say nuthin' bad 'bout Suki!

gnipgnop

hahaha, marvin is vanity plates & $2 cologne, if he's anything. and suki? never a bad word, ferryboi. that woman can eat her way through a wall of concrete & steel and come out on the other side all covered in dust & debris and look fantastic doing it - woo tang forever!

xgeyiph772

And who is this smartass Larry Mendte? What's his story? He's like a poor-mans Bill O'Reilly and acts like some smart-ass know-it-all ex-cop, you know, that uncle you hate to see every Thanksgiving because he thinks he knows everything and never shuts up?

gnipgnop

HA! xactly, whe the hell is he? got accused of 'hacking' a coworker's email account in philly- that crazy anchor lady who got arrested here in NYC for punching a female cop, alycia lane(?) - but really he just looked over her shoulder & stole her password, so just as you said, kinda like a poor (& dumb) man's o'reilly for sure... i'd say he's prolly one DUI away from perfection..

xgeyiph772

OMG, is that him? WPIX seems to be picking up the dregs of Philly/NYC local stations lately. They must work for cheap. Tonite Mendte went after BP because of the Gulf oil spill. He's about two weeks too late, and goes after the very obvious "bad guys" that any 3-year-old could point out and "comment" on.

"Capping the oil well is like putting a dixie cup over a geyser..." and other pointless remarks are the best he could come up with tonight. May start skipping WPIX altogether at 10pm.

xgeyiph772

*ferryboi laughs*

John

This is a pathetic attempt to make money off this guy because of a slap. You can get him locked up but there is NO WAY you are going to make money on this buddy.

xgeyiph772

Vince looks pissed every time I see him on WPIX. Must have taken a pay cut after all those years at WNBC, and man it really shows on each broadcast. He always looks like he's ready to eat his microphone and spit it at the camera.

MT

If you've ever watch the PIX news with this gut you'd know he's a total douchebag. However, that driver is an ever bigger idiot for going to the hospital for getting slapped. They both need to be chucked into the river.