Man arrested on suspicion of robbing two Bay Area news crews on live TV
A San Francisco man has been arrested in the brazen robbery of two Bay Area news crews on live TV as they reported on a pier shooting death, police said Wednesday.
A black BMW used as getaway car during the robbery led detectives to Michael Jones, 23, who was found July 27 at a Motel 6 in Fremont, according to the San Francisco Police Department.
Jones, who police say is a known gang member, was taken into custody after a brief chase. He was being held on suspicion of robbery, aggravated assault, grand theft and conspiracy, as well as several warrants for drugs, burglary, hit and run and evading police.
Jones was on probation for a firearms violation.
Police are looking for two other men involved in the robbery.
Crews from KNTV-Channel 11 and KTVU-Channel 2 were reporting live at 6:03 a.m. July 2 on the shooting death of 32-year-old Kathryn Steinle at Pier 14 when three men stole their camera equipment.
A portion of the robbery was captured on air, showing the gunman approaching KNTV camera operator Alan Waples and putting a gun to his head while reporter Kris Sanchez pleads for him not to shoot.
Waples was thrown to the ground and struck with the gun. The cameraman’s ear was cut.
After robbing the news crews, the gunman and two other men drove away in a black BMW with their cameras and tripods, police said.
Bay Area news crews have increased their security after a string of thefts targeting them, according to the San Francisco Chronicle.
A KTVU crew was attacked and robbed in February in Hayward after filming a Powerball lottery segment at a convenience store.
In July 2014, a laptop and personal belongings were stolen from a news van belonging to KPIX-TV, another Bay Area station. That same news crew was punched and robbed in 2012 during a live broadcast.
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