7-4, 540-Pound Pro Wrestler Held in Assault
Professional wrestler Andrae Rene Roussimoff, known as Andre the Giant, was charged with assault and criminal mischief for allegedly clamping a headlock on a television cameraman and damaging his equipment.
Roussimoff, who is 7 feet, 4 inches tall and weighs 540 pounds, was released from police custody after his manager posted $1,200 bond late Monday.
“Thank God he was cooperative in the arrest,” said Assistant Police Chief Jim Barnes. “A guy that big, he could cause some damage.”
Barnes said Roussimoff, 43, was upset when Ben Hildebrandt, a cameraman for Cedar Rapids television station KCRG, was taking videotape during a match between Roussimoff and the Ultimate Warrior at the Five Seasons Center in downtown Cedar Rapids on Monday night. The Ultimate Warrior won in 30 seconds.
After the match, Barnes said, Roussimoff turned on Hildebrandt, described by his station as less than 6 feet tall and about 175 pounds, and told the cameraman he wasn’t supposed to film the match.
He said the two exchanged words, then Roussimoff put the cameraman in a headlock. Hildebrandt was released after treatment for bruises at a local hospital.
KCRG assignment editor Cindy Will said Roussimoff also ripped control cables out of Hildebrandt’s camera, causing about $300 damage.
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