Man held in alleged attack on reporter
A man who had staged a daily protest outside a Vietnamese-language newspaper since late January was arrested Thursday on suspicion of assaulting one of the newspaper’s reporters.
Trong Doan, 59, is accused of punching a reporter from Nguoi Viet Daily News in front of the newspaper’s offices in Westminster.
The only witnesses to the alleged assault were other protesters who have been uncooperative with police, said Sgt. Dan Schoonmaker. But he said the incident was captured on video by the reporter.
The Orange County district attorney’s office issued an arrest warrant for Doan as part of the Westminster Police Department’s investigation into the ongoing street protests. Police said newspaper employees have reported a variety of threats.
No other arrest warrants have been issued, Schoonmaker said. Doan is being held on $5,500 bail.
The protesters oppose Nguoi Viet’s decision to print a photo of a foot spa painted with the colors of the South Vietnamese flag, which they say is offensive. The newspaper recently filed a lawsuit and restraining order against the protesters, alleging they have harassed and threatened employees and potential customers of the paper.
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