Black reporter attacked live on TV; arrest warrant issued for attacker

September 4, 2021 0

An arrest warrant was issued by Mississippi police for an Ohio man who attacked a Black reporter during a live newstaping in the state. Shaquille Brewster, of MSNBC News, was physically attacked by Benjamin Eugene Dagley during their confrontation, CNN reports. He will be charged with assault, curfew violation and disturbing the peace as a result of his confrontation. 

Brewster reported on Tropical Storm Ida live on Monday (Aug. 30). The MSNBC crew watched as Dagley showed up in a white pickup truck and ran toward Brewster and the other MSNBC crew members. 

In the beginning, he ignored the man and continued to report on the weather. Moments later, Dagley started trotting toward Brewster directly and shouting, “Report accurately” into his face. 

Dagley hasn’t been in trouble with the law for the first time. By traveling without permission to Gulfport, he could also be violating his probation in Cuyahoga County, Ohio. During 2017, the 54-year-old pleaded guilty to multiple charges, including vandalism, attempted assault, and inducing panic. In comparison, it is reported that a former employee of Cleveland Plating broke into the business and drilled holes in tanks that contained dangerous chemicals such as cyanide salts, hydrochloric acid, yellow chromate, sulfuric acid, and ferrous chloride. 

According to police, Dagley’s drilling had the potential to cause an environmental disaster. During the release of the dangerous chemicals into the atmosphere, his co-workers told authorities that he was “aware of what he was doing”. The 27-year-old security guard, who had detected the leak, ended up being treated in a nearby hospital for what appeared to be cyanide poisoning. 

In June, Dagley and two other associates attempted to break into Cleveland Plating again with the goal of stealing. The security guard was allegedly assaulted by hitting them in the knee with a door and slamming it shut. 

As of Wednesday (Sept. 1), Dagley is still on the run and has not been apprehended. 

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