A Californian businessman accused of groping a woman and spitting on a passerby has been arrested after he was filmed attacking at least three news photographers.
Peter Carzis, the owner of Peter’s Men’s Apparel in La Mesa, San Diego, is seen screaming ‘Motherf***er’! Call the cops!’ as he confronts the group outside his store on Monday.
In the footage, the 76-year-old shoves several camera operators who were reporting on his alleged lewd behavior.
At one point, he lashes out at a man who is backing away. When the cameraman says ‘I’m bada**’, Carzis replies through gritted teeth, ‘You’re a bada**? Show me how bada** you are, motherf***er!’ before returning to his store and closing the door.
Peter Carzis (above), owner of Peter’s Men’s Apparel in La Mesa, San Diego, lashes out at news photographers and screams abuse outside his store on Monday after they confront him over his alleged lewd behavior. Carzis has been accused of groping a woman and spitting on a passerby
Carzis, 76, was arrested on Tuesday after he was filmed attacking at least three members of the press. Pictured, Carzis grabs a reporter’s camera while launching a volley of curses at him
Following the incident on Saturday, Carzis, of La Mesa, was arrested and taken into custody on Tuesday. La Mesa Police Department said he was accused of battering multiple reporters and causing irreparable damage to a video camera reported to be worth approximately $7,000
According to witnesses, Carzis initially faced down a female photographer from Univision, breaking her camera – before striking journalist Dan Plante from news channel KUSI in the face, leaving him bloodied.
Carzis, of La Mesa, was arrested and taken into custody on Tuesday on suspicion of misdemeanor battery and felony property destruction following the incident.
Lt. Gregory Runge of the La Mesa Police Department said Carzis is accused of battering multiple reporters and causing irreparable damage to a video camera reported to be worth approximately $7,000, according to the Times Of San Diego.
Carzis will be booked into the San Diego County Jail after being medically cleared, the police said.
It comes after a still from an alleged video emerged on Twitter, and on a Facebook group called ‘La Mesa Happenings’ over the weekend which allegedly showed Carzis groping the breasts of a woman as he sat on a chair on the sidewalk outside his used men’s clothes store on Saturday.
Carzis returns to his used men’s clothes shop after the encounter. He will be booked into the San Diego County Jail after being medically cleared, the police said
A post on Twitter from the police department reads: ‘The La Mesa PD is aware of the video posted on the La Mesa Happenings group and will be following up with any potential victims.’
Prior to the incident involving the media, La Mesa police said they were investigating the spitting incident as battery and fondling as a lewd act – both are misdemeanors.
Carzis allegedly spat on a passerby over the weekend.
Addie Pastore wrote on the La Mesa Happenings page on Facebook that she and her husband were walking past Peter’s Men’s Apparel at 8239 La Mesa Blvd. when her husband waved at the store owner and he spat in their direction.
Ms Pastore posted: ‘My husband stopped and turned around and said, “Excuse me?” The owner again spat in my husband’s face and said F-you to him for no reason.’
Several other women have posted comments on Yelp’s business forum claiming Carzis touched them inappropriately or made crude comments, according to reports.
Superior Court records indicate that a Peter Carzis has had three civil lawsuits filed against him in East County, including two harassment cases in 2013 and 2015, according to the Times Of San Diego.
In 2013, a restraining order against Peter Carzis was granted. In 2015, a civil harassment restraining order was dismissed. Another 2015 case involved a dependent adult abuse restraining order.
Carzis returns to his shop after the showdown with members of the press. La Mesa police said they were investigating the spitting incident as battery and fondling as a lewd act