Mike Wallace Arrest in NY City
David String in New Jersey
NEWS REPORT | This Just In:"Man with a taco sits silently at Taco Bell Picnic Bench.
Cops arrest him.""86 year old man in NYC with a meatloaf.
Cops arrest him."
New Jersey vs. String
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Two U.S. Citizens | Take Out Customers
One in New York City and One In New Jersey
Both were Arrested | Handcuffed | Taken to Police Station
by overzealous cops who "overstepped their bounds."
1. David in NJ -- Taco Bell Picnic Bench -- Taco Take-Out | Arrested | beer breath
2. An 86 Year Old Man in NY City -- Meatloaf Take-Out | Arrested | disorderly conduct
Click here to listen to an AUDIO POSTCARD |
News Report 1 | NY City Man & David Sting
News Report 2 | NY City Man & David Sting
Inspectors are often arrogant and abusive, says a cabbies' lawyerBy DAN ACKMAN
--> http://dackman.homestead.com/ |The bizarre run-in between Mike Wallace and Taxi & Limousine Commission inspectors - which led to the arrest for disorderly conduct of an 86-year-old man armed only with a meatloaf - is unique in its particulars. But it is hardly out of character for the TLC.
TLC inspectors operate in a culture of lawlessness, which in recent years has started at the very top of the agency. They tend to be hypervigilant in enforcing TLC's rules but untrained in the law and the Constitution, not to mention manners and good sense.
While the case against Wallace is likely to be dropped - or laughed out of court - taxi drivers are rarely so lucky. When they encounter a TLC inspector, they can be ticketed for a variety of alleged misdeeds, anything from failure to fill out a trip sheet to "failure to cooperate" to unspecified "acts against the best interest of the public."
Drivers face fines or even the revocation of their licenses - the basis for their livelihoods - often solely on the word of the same kind of folks who arrested Wallace. It happens hundreds of times a year.
When a police officer makes an arrest and the case goes to trial, the officer goes before a state judge, not a judge hired by the Police Department.
Not so a TLC inspector. He goes to a TLC court and before a judge employed by the TLC. These judges are often underqualified private lawyers who work on a day-labor basis. That means they can be fired at the drop of a hat - something the NYPD, of course, could never do to a state judge.
This setup leaves TLC judges beholden to the agency. While they are supposed to consider the evidence the way any judge would, in fact, they often weight the evidence heavily in favor of TLC inspectors, as any taxi driver will tell you. It doesn't help that many cabbies are from places like Haiti and Pakistan and may not know their rights.
TLC judges who please the agency can be promoted to full-time agency lawyer status. Normally, successful lawyers become judges. But with the TLC, a legal bizarro world, it's the other way around.
With the TLC writing the rules and hiring the inspectors, prosecutors and even the judges, it's no wonder the entire regime is permeated by arrogance and abuse.
Cabbies see it every day. It's only when it happens to a Mike Wallace that it's news.
Ackman is a lawyer who sometimes represents taxi drivers and is a senior columnist for Forbes.com.
Originally published on August 13, 2004
Daniel L. Ackman
journalist, screenwriter, lawyer, iconoclast and skeptic
---> http://dackman.homestead.com/ |
---> http://dackman.homestead.com/DLARes102001.htm |
Tel: 201-536-0299
eMail: danackman@yahoo.com |
CNN Wednesday, August 11, 2004
CBS' Mike Wallace cited for disorderly conductFrom Dalit Herdoon
Wallace was released soon after being issued a summons.
Mike WallaceNEW YORK (CNN) -- CBS News veteran Mike Wallace, 86, was arrested Tuesday evening outside a New York City restaurant and issued a summons for disorderly conduct.
Alan Fromberg, deputy commissioner for public affairs at the Taxi and Limousine Commission (TLC), told CNN that Wallace allegedly lunged at a TLC inspector about 8:30 p.m. ET.
Two TLC inspectors saw that Wallace's vehicle, registered with the commission, was double-parked and approached the driver. According to Fromberg, while the two inspectors were questioning the driver and checking the vehicle, Wallace came out of Luke's Bar and Grill on Manhattan's Upper East side carrying a take-out order.
Wallace then approached the two inspectors, Fromberg said, in an "overtly assertive and disrespectful manner." Wallace was asked to step away three times by the inspectors. Wallace did not comply.
After the third request to step aside, Wallace "[lunged] at one of the inspectors," Fromberg said.
The second inspector handcuffed Wallace and placed him in an unmarked TLC vehicle. Wallace was then escorted to the 19th precinct and "issued a summons for disorderly conduct," Fromberg said.
He was released soon afterward.
Luigi Militello, owner of Luke's Bar and Grill, told CNN that Wallace is a regular customer at his restaurant and "anyone that knows him can tell you he doesn't behave wildly."
Militello said he observed the incident from inside the restaurant. Although Militello could not hear what was said, he said the inspector acted unprofessionally.
"One of the officers was totally out of line," Militello said. "He manhandled him [Wallace] as if he was a common criminal."
Wallace called Militello after he was released from the precinct to let him know he was home "eating his meatloaf."
Calls to CBS News for comment were not immediately returned.
The Taxi and Limousine Commission receives applications and distributes limousine and taxi licenses in New York
CNN
---> http://www.cnn.com/2004/LAW/08/10/wallace.arrest/ |
Mike Wallace wins the argumentElizabeth Jensen
CBS News' Mike Wallace got the good news this week that he is off the hook for his arrest this month on disorderly conduct charges and no longer has an October court date. The veteran "60 Minutes" anchor even got an apology from New York City's Taxi & Limousine Commission over the incident, which took place when Wallace had his Town Car driver double-park as he stopped to pick up a takeout dinner of meat loaf and mashed potatoes.
The commission told Wallace that the officer overstepped his bounds when he arrested the reporter for arguing with him
A CBS News spokesman said Wallace was happy the situation has been resolved.
Mike Wallace case droppedMike Wallace is off the hook, but the two inspectors who had him arrested are on desk duty.
New York's Taxi and Limousine Commission will not be pressing charges against Wallace. He was arrested about three weeks ago after picking up some take-out meat loaf and mashed potatoes.
Two inspectors say he gave them trouble when they were trying to ticket his driver for being double-parked. A commission spokesman says the inspector who handcuffed Wallace didn't have the authority to do that.
He says both inspectors are now on desk duty. They'll be issued warnings and will have to be retrained in how to resolve a conflict.
Mike Wallace Gets an Apology for an Arrest Called Overzealous
By MICHAEL LUOPublished: August 27, 2004
Taxi and Limousine Commission officials said yesterday that their agents had acted "somewhat overzealously'' in arresting Mike Wallace earlier this month and that the disorderly conduct charge against him would be dropped.
On Aug. 10, Mr. Wallace, the 86-year-old "60 Minutes'' correspondent, was handcuffed and taken to a police station by two inspectors.
He had just come out of an Upper East Side restaurant bearing a meatloaf dinner, when he found his driver, who was double parked, being questioned by the agents. Mr. Wallace said he got into the car, then got out again, figuring his meatloaf was getting cold. He said he spoke to the inspectors politely. One of them barked for him to get back inside. When he pressed them some more, he said, one "put my arm behind my back in a hammerlock."
Allan Fromberg, a spokesman for the commission, said yesterday that the inspectors "could have chosen other better options."
As it turns out, he said, the inspector with the handcuffs, Keefe Roman, was not yet authorized to carry them or issue a summons. Mr. Roman, a rookie inspector, had not received a "special patrolman" designation from the Police Department, which typically comes a few months after the inspectors finish their training.
The commission's 165 inspectors, who call themselves, "New York's proudest," enforce taxi rules and regulations but are also peace officers, able to make arrests.
Mr. Roman insisted to investigators that Mr. Wallace lunged at his partner, Richard Mattaliano, a veteran inspector, but Mr. Fromberg said that investigators interviewed several witnesses and concluded that Mr. Wallace did not lunge at anyone.
Mr. Roman and Mr. Mattaliano, who were placed on desk duty, will be issued official warnings and forced to undergo retraining on conflict resolution, Mr. Fromberg said.
Mr. Wallace, reached at home yesterday, said the commission's chairman, Matthew W. Daus, had called him and was "very decently apologetic." Referring to Mr. Roman, Mr. Wallace said: "The man made a mistake, and I think he's been made to understand that by his superiors."
James Barron contributed reporting for this article.
Charge Dropped Against CBS' Mike Wallace
Mike Wallace
POSTED: 8:54 am EDT August 27, 2004NEW YORK -- CBS newsman Mike Wallace said thanks to a "thorough investigation," charges against him are being dropped.
AP Image '60 Minutes' Correspondent Mike Wallace
New York City's Taxi and Limousine Commission said it won't pursue a disorderly conduct charge against the 86-year-old Wallace, who was arrested earlier this month after a confrontation with inspectors outside a Manhattan restaurant.
The "60 Minutes" correspondent was handcuffed and taken to a police precinct on Aug. 10 after he and his driver clashed with inspectors after Wallace had picked up a takeout order of meatloaf at Luke's Restaurant. He was released after being issued a summons.
Wallace said he came out of the restaurant and saw two inspectors interviewing his driver, who they said was double-parked. He said he asked the inspectors what was going on and they told him to get back in the car. He said they arrested him after he pressed them further.
The inspectors initially said Wallace approached them and became "overly assertive and disrespectful" and lunged at one of them.
A spokesman for the TLC said an investigation had determined that the inspector who had handcuffed Wallace had not yet received his special patrolman status, which authorizes inspectors to use handcuffs and write summonses.
Wallace said the agency's commissioner, Matthew Daus, had personally called him to tell him the results of the investigation.
Sunday 29th August, 2004 NYC faces down Mike Wallace, and blinks
Mike Wallace
Big News Network.com
Saturday 28th August, 2004New York City's Taxi and Limousine Commission has decided
the better part of valor is to not to mess with veteran newsman Mike Wallace.Earlier this month the 86-year-old anchor of 60 Minutes was arrested outside a Manhattan restaurant by commission agents for being disorderly, TVGuide.com reported Friday.
His limousine was double parked so the driver could run in and pick up some takeout food for Wallace. When commission employees began writing a ticket, Wallace got out of his limousine and confronted them.
The commission dropped disorderly conduct charges against Wallace and apologized, saying the employee who handcuffed him had not yet received special patrolman status, which authorizes inspectors to use handcuffs or write tickets.
The famous investigative reporter appeared satisfied.
The man made a mistake, and I think he's been made to understand that by his superiors, he told the New York Times.
Mike Wallace Won't Face Charges
Mike Wallace
The Associated Press Friday, August 27, 2004; 4:02 AMNEW YORK - The city's Taxi and Limousine Commission said it would not pursue a disorderly conduct charge against 86-year-old CBS newsman Mike Wallace, who was arrested earlier this month during a confrontation with inspectors outside a Manhattan restaurant.
The "60 Minutes" correspondent was handcuffed and taken to a police precinct on Aug. 10 after he and his driver clashed with inspectors while Wallace picked up a takeout order at a restaurant. He was issued a summons and released.
Wallace said he left the restaurant to find two inspectors interviewing his driver, who they said was double-parked. He said he asked the inspectors what was going on and they told him to get back in the car. They arrested him after he pressed them further, he said.
Allan Fromberg, a spokesman for the TLC, said an investigation had determined that the inspector who had handcuffed Wallace had not yet received his special patrolman status, which authorizes inspectors to use handcuffs and write summonses.
Both inspectors were placed on desk duty, would be issued warnings and would be required to undergo retraining in conflict resolution, Fromberg said.
Wallace said the agency's commissioner, Matthew Daus, had personally called him to tell him the results of the investigation.
"I'm grateful for Commissioner Daus, for a thorough investigation and the decision at which they arrived," Wallace said.
Mike Wallace
IN BRIEF:
Charges dropped against Mike Wallace
Last Updated Fri, 27 Aug 2004 17:14:24 EDTNEW YORK - Charges dropped against 60 Minutes veteran
FROM AUG. 10, 2004: Mike Wallace arrested for disorderly conduct
After a "thorough investigation," the New York City Taxi and Limousine Commission has dropped charges against veteran journalist Mike Wallace of 60 Minutes.
Earlier this month, the 86-year-old correspondent was charged with disorderly conduct when he and his driver had a minor verbal clash with commission inspectors outside a New York restaurant. They handcuffed Wallace and brought him to a police precinct.
After conducting its own investigation, the commission found that the inspector who handcuffed the venerable journalist wasn't authorized to do so.
Wallace said he is grateful for the investigation and the decision to drop the charges.
Mike WallaceMike Wallace arrested for disorderly conduct
Last Updated Wed, 11 Aug 2004 13:22:48 EDTNEW YORK - 60 Minutes news veteran Mike Wallace was reportedly arrested for disorderly conduct Tuesday night after getting into an argument with city inspectors.
Wallace, 86, was handcuffed and driven to a police station after the verbal altercation. Mike Wallace (AP file photo)
According to reports, Wallace, who had just left a Manhattan restaurant, got into a dispute with two inspectors from the Taxi and Limousine Commission.
The inspectors saw that Wallace's vehicle, registered with the commission, was double-parked and approached the driver, CNN reported.
The Taxi and Limousine Commission claims Wallace became "overly assertive and disrespectful."
The commission alleges Wallace lunged at one of the inspectors. The other inspector then handcuffed Wallace and drove him to a police station.
In an interview with a New York radio station on Wednesday, Wallace said he doesn't know why the parking inspectors arrested him.
"I'm an 86-year-old man," Wallace told WFAN. "For whatever reason, this guy and his buddy were intent upon telling me that I was interfering with the execution of the law."
Wallace was issued a summons for disorderly conduct and released. Luigi Militello, the restaurant manager, told WCBS-TV that the inspectors "manhandled" Wallace during the dispute.
He will appear in court in October.
Written by CBC News Online
Mike WallaceThank you, Mike Wallace, for giving us the idea
for an exciting new reality series: 'Elder Brawl'Everything we know we learned from television:
So 86-year-old Mike Wallace got in a scuffle over a parking ticket in New York. Depending on who you talk to, either Wallace "lunged" at one of two guys writing the ticket or was "manhandled" by the same duo. Doesn't matter. This is brilliant. And the beauty of it is -- if you live to be 86, you're way ahead of the game, but if you're 86 and you make headlines by getting into a scuffle in New York, well, that's just world-class great right there.
It's another reason to be a proud American.
Even our elderly are able and willing to beat the snot out of you.
Mike Wallace
Posted on Wed, Aug. 11, 2004 NYC
Mayor to Probe Arrest of Mike WallaceAssociated Press
NEW YORK - Eighty-six-year-old CBS newsman Mike Wallace - arrested and cuffed after a confrontation with taxi and limousine inspectors - wonders why anyone thought he was such a threat. So does Mayor Mike Bloomberg.
"Why a man in his 80s was so threatening that they had to arrest him when they normally don't arrest anybody certainly gives you cause to ask the question," Bloomberg said at his daily press briefing Wednesday.
"Why he'd have to be handcuffed and led away, or whatever happened, I don't know, but you can rest assured we will be looking into it."
The dispute began as the "60 Minutes" correspondent was leaving Luke's Restaurant late Tuesday after picking up a take-out order of meatloaf, Wallace said on WFAN's "Imus in the Morning."
Wallace saw two Taxi and Limousine Commission inspectors interviewing his driver, who they said was double-parked. "I asked what's going on, and they kept telling me to get back in the car," he recalled. "Then they arrested me and took me to the 19th precinct."
Wallace was released after being issued a summons citing him with disorderly conduct. He's due in court in October.
On Wednesday, Wallace told Entertainment Tonight: "I sat there for an hour or so and they (the police) said,
'OK, we know who you are, we know what you do, we have no problems with you."I would call this a comedy of errors, but there was no comedy," he said. "So I went home, put the meatloaf in the microwave and it was superb."
The inspectors saw it another way, saying Wallace approached them and became "overly assertive and disrespectful," interfering with their ability to perform their duties.The inspectors said they asked Wallace to step away from the car, but he refused, and lunged at one of them, TLC spokesman Allan Fromberg told The New York Post.
"I'm an 86-year-old man," Wallace told the Post. "For whatever reason, this guy and his buddy were intent upon telling me that I was interfering with the execution of the law."
Fromberg told The Associated Press on Wednesday the agency was investigating the incident but would not comment further.
CBS Newsman Mike Wallace Issued Summons CBS Newsman Wallace Issued Summons for Disorderly Conduct, Wonders Why Anyone Thinks He's a Threat
Mike WallaceThe Associated Press
NEW YORK Aug. 11, 2004 — "60 Minutes" correspondent Mike Wallace, who was placed in handcuffs and taken to a police precinct in a dispute with city parking enforcement inspectors, says he wonders why anyone thought that he, at 86, was a threat.
Wallace was released after being issued a summons citing him with disorderly conduct.
Wallace said the dispute began as he was leaving Luke's Restaurant late Tuesday after picking up a take-out order of meatloaf.
Wallace saw two Taxi and Limousine Commission inspectors interviewing his driver, who they said was double-parked outside the restaurant.
"I asked what's going on, and they kept telling me to get back in the car," Wallace said in an interview on WFAN's "Imus in the Morning" show. "Then they arrested me and took me to the 19th Precinct."
The TLC inspectors saw it another way, saying Wallace approached the inspectors and became "overly assertive and disrespectful," interfering with their ability to perform their duties.
The inspectors said they asked Wallace to step away from the car, but he refused, and lunged at one of the them, TLC spokesman Allan Fromberg told the New York Post.
"I'm an 86-year-old man," Wallace told the Post. "For whatever reason, this guy and his buddy were intent upon telling me that I was interfering with the execution of the law."
Fromberg told The Associated Press on Wednesday that the agency was investigating the incident but would not comment further.
A spokesman for Wallace confirmed the incident, but added no details.
Luigi Militello, manager of Luke's Restaurant, told WCBS that the inspectors "manhandled" Wallace.
Wallace has been with CBS since the 1950s and on its flagship "60 Minutes" newsmagazine since its inception in 1968.
He is due in court in October.