TV cameraman fined after police say he enticed kids to ride bikes in floodwater
7/5/2006NORWALK, Ohio A television news cameraman paid a $145 fine after police said he enticed three teenagers to ride their bikes through waist-high floodwaters.
The boys told police that Gary Abrahamsen of WEWS-TV in Cleveland offered to put them on TV if they rode through the water on a bridge, according to a police report.
They said a reporter waded into the water so they would be riding behind her in the video.
Police cited Abrahamsen with misdemeanor disorderly conduct June 22. He paid the fine June 28, according to Norwalk Municipal Court.
Messages seeking from Abrahamsen and WEWS were not immediately returned today.
Abrahamsen denied coaxing the two 13-year-olds and one 14-year-old to ride through the water, and told The (Cleveland) Plain Dealer that paying the fine was cheaper than fighting the citation.
Norwalk was hit hard by damaging storms that began June 21 and were blamed for flash flooding and two deaths. The flood water in the Norwalk nearly covered cars in some low-lying areas.
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