State worker assaults TV reporter on video: “This is not public property; this is state property.”

From Capitol Report New Mexico - Back on Tuesday, Nov. 23, a state worker grabbed at the camera of KOB-TV reporter Gadi Schwartz (left) while the reporter shot videotape outside the Public Employees Retirement Association (PERA) Building in downtown Santa Fe. During the fracas, the state employee fell down and one of his associates told Schwartz to leave the premises, saying, “This is not public property; this is state property.” A security guard later tried to evict Schwartz from the vicinity uttering the same phrase. Schwartz was covering a story concerning the discovery of bones by a construction crew outside the PERA Building and had earlier spoken to a member of the Santa Fe Police Department on camera about the discovery. Schwartz tried to explain that he had permission from the police officer to shoot video of the scene but the state employee insisted that Schwartz leave, as did a security officer who arrived after the state employee fell to the ground while attempting to grab Schwartz’ camera. News of the tussle came out last week but today, the Santa Fe New Mexican posted the actual video of the incident. Read more

State worker assaults TV reporter on video: “This is not public property; this is state property.”