ABC 6 reporter Abbey Niezgoda was attacked on assignment Tuesday. Photo from AbbeyTV.com
WPRO Newsroom
A Providence woman who attacked a local TV news crew has been arrested and charged with two counts of felony assault.
Melissa Lawrence became combative when ABC 6 news reporter Abbey Niezgoda and photographer Marc Jackson visited her home on Tuesday to interview her. Lawrence’s 16-year-old daughter had been shot in the back at a party over the weekend, and the suspect has since turned himself in. Niezgoda and Jackson were seeking Lawrence’s comment on the situation.
Lawrence asked Niezgoda and Jackson to leave, but before they could go, Lawrence began throwing rocks at Jackson, swung a baseball bat and commanded her two dogs to attack Niezgoda. Niezgoda suffered a bite to the forearm, and received treatment for her injury.
“It was surprising to say the least,” said Providence Police Commander Thomas Oates of Lawrence’s reaction.
Oates said the police reviewed tape of the incident, which was captured by Jackson, and subsequently arrested and charged Lawrence with two counts of felony assault: one for throwing a rock and another for having the dogs attack the female reporter
“They’re in a public place trying to do their job,” said Oates of Niezgoda and Jackson, who stayed on the public street in front of Lawrence’s home. “It was certainly an overreaction on the part of Mrs. Lawrence just to say the very least, but that kind of conduct is certainly not acceptable and will not be tolerated.”
Oates said he doesn’t recall a similar situation like this occurring during his tenure with the Providence Police.
Lawrence is scheduled to appear in court Wednesday.
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