Posted on 08/11/2004 1:25:03 PM PDT by PinnedAndRecessed
(CBS) Veteran 60 Minutes correspondent Mike Wallace, 86, emerged unscathed from a confrontation with a pair of Big Apple parking inspectors the newsman called "a trifle arrogant."
Wallace was handcuffed, taken to a police station and arrested on a disorderly conduct charge following a verbal exchange with the two inspectors.
"All I can tell you is it was a misunderstanding. They were a trifle arrogant," Wallace told John Slattery of WCBS-TV.
The dispute began at about 8:30 p.m. Tuesday, as Wallace was leaving Luke's Restaurant on Manhattan's Upper East Side. Wallace saw two Taxi and Limousine Commission inspectors talking to his driver, who they said was double-parked outside the restaurant.
The newsman denied being disorderly.
"I said, 'What are you doing with the driver?' [The inspectors replied] 'Get back in the car!' 'Get back in the car!' And all of a sudden they had my arms behind me and they were cuffing me," Wallace said.
The TLC said Wallace approached the inspectors and became "overly assertive and disrespectful," interfering with their ability to perform their duties.
The inspectors then asked him to step away from the car and Wallace refused, lunging at one of the inspectors, according to the TLC.
"I find it difficult to lunge into bed," Wallace countered.
The other inspector then handcuffed Wallace and drove him to the NYPD's 19th precinct headquarters, where he was issued the summons and a Desk Appearance Ticket. He was later released.
Wallace laughed off the notion that he had threatened either inspector.
"I'm an 86-year-old man," he told the New York Post. "For whatever reason, this guy and his buddy were intent upon telling me that I was interfering with the execution of the law."
Luigi Militello, the manager of the restaurant, told WCBS that the inspectors "manhandled" Wallace during the dispute.
Another witness, Ernesto Cazalli, said that Wallace was "swung by his shirt against his own car and handled quite vigorously."
Wallace is due in court in October.
Wallace has been with CBS since the 1950s and on its flagship 60 Minutes newsmagazine since its inception in 1968.
"A trifle arrogant"? Oh, Mike...how does it FEEL?
This seems like another case of the real 2 Americas...the ultra rich elite (who think they can get away with bad behavior because of who they are) and the rest of us law abiding working Americans.
Sorry, all, I am on Mike's side here. What excuse do two burly traffic cops have to manhandle an 86-year-old? I don't care if it's Mike Wallace or Joe Schmoe.
It could just as well have been my 80 year-old widowed brother who often double parks in Manhattan while picking up his dinner.
Some of these pseudocops go crazy with power.
Arrogance is having your personal driver illegally double park on a busy street for your convenience and then complaining when you get called on it.
New Yorkers get tickets when they double park. That goes for arrogant assh*le journalists too.
Wallace: Do you know who I am?
Officer: Sure, and I'm the tooth fairy. Put your hands behind your back.
"For whatever reason, this guy and his buddy were intent upon telling me that I was interfering with the execution of the law."
Well, at this point I would listen and back off.
My college roommate was involved in an exhibition basketball game that included Phillies great Mike Schmidt. Schmidt was throwing elbows and generally playing like a punk. My roommate, a member of the boxing club, simply grabbed Schmidt by the shirt as the play went upcourt & told him, "I'd flatten you right now if I didn't think people would assume that I was trying to make a name for myself." Schmidt cleaned up his act.
Sometimes, even when you are right, you have to be aware of what a confrontation will look like. Mike Wallace can say anything that he wants, and it will get into print. He has the bigger microphone.
It could just as well have been my 80 year-old widowed brother who often double parks in Manhattan while picking up his dinner.
Some of these pseudocops go crazy with power.
The article says “unscathed” and “not a scratch”
I guess they don’t make “burly pseudocops crazy with power” like they used to.
New York City claims it’s the city that never sleeps, so the 800 cars stuck behind Mike’s limo as he shops for his dinner just have to shut up, take it and like it?
It may be the difference between New York directness and Southern Hospitality, who knows. But I cannot imagine myself arguing with a policeman. Especially over a ticket. Wallace should have taken the ticket & either paid the fine or argued it in court. Just like the rest of us.
Well, he needs a ticket too. Or have him call a taxi and have them deliver him the food. Sheeze! Let's just let all the old geezers double park. I've been in NYC traffic lined up for blocks just because someone is a selfish SOB and is double parked! Grrrrrr!
"Sorry, all, I am on Mike's side here. What excuse do two burly traffic cops have to manhandle an 86-year-old? "
Last week I think it was in Mississippi the sate executed a 76 year old man for murder. Do you think they had right to not only manhandle, but to kill him?
New York is on orange alert. Homeland Security has specifically advised that limousines might be used in a terrorist attack. I don't know what the story is here with Wallace. Either he was interfering with the officers, as they say, or he was not, as he says. In either case, given the nature of specific alerts regarding limousines, the officers would be justified in assertively exercising their responsibiities.
Wallace cuts them an attitude and does not comply. . .cuffs come out everytime, pal, for you, for me AND FOR OLD MAN WALLACE!!!
trow da book at em!!
This is more of that one-law for elites and another for the "common" man.
Sound familiar? Hmmmmmmm.
Leni
You know Palladin...I don't much care for Wallace Schmallace but I'm with you.
course I go chewed on around here a few months ago cause everybody thought it was Great Job! when a 50 year old lawyer prick shot his 76 year old neighbor in a fence dispute when the 76 year old was armed with a cattle prod or stick....lawyer emptied his gun in the old man...property rights and all.
FReepers are real big on whupping up on old farts sometimes...lol
Amen.
I knew a steel producer in Jackson Mississippi when I was a boy.
When he was 84, some interlopers from Pittsburgh came in and were trying to gin up business to start a new electric furnace there.
He cold cocked one of them at an Association of General Contractors meeting.
My hero.
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