Man arrested on suspicion of threatening cameraman after Huntington Beach rally
A man suspected of threatening a TV cameraman several hours after a protest in Huntington Beach on Friday was arrested that evening and remained jailed Monday, April 20, police said.
Costa Mesa man faces kidnapping charge after holding FOX 11 photographer at knifepoint https://t.co/jUz5OXveUp pic.twitter.com/QNHKUZLro7
— FOX 11 Los Angeles (@FOXLA) April 20, 2020
Christien Francis Petersen, 36, of Costa Mesa, was arrested at 7:49 p.m. on suspicion of exhibiting a deadly weapon other than a firearm and kidnapping, according to the Huntington Beach Police Department’s arrest log.
“The man allegedly had a pocket knife in his hand and made some sort of threat towards the camera operator,” HBPD spokeswoman Angie Bennett said.
She declined to comment on what might have been said during the incident, or why the two parties involved might have gotten into an altercation, citing an ongoing investigation.
Fox 11 Los Angeles reported that Peterson forced a news photographer for the station to delete any video the suspect might have been captured in. He was allegedly holding the victim at knifepoint inside of his news van near Main Street and Walnut Avenue when police arrived to arrest him.
The incident took place at about 7:15 p.m., Bennett said. No injuries were reported.
Petersen’s occupation was listed as “lawyer,” and he remained in custody in lieu of $100,000 bail as of Monday evening, inmate records show. Petersen was scheduled to appear in court Tuesday, April 21.