The Georgia man who groped a reporter while she was delivering a live report on TV has been charged with sexual battery.
Thomas Callaway, 44, was arrested Friday (Dec. 13) and charged with the crime after authorities confirmed he’s the man seen on camera jogging past reporter Alex Bozarjian and slapping her on the backside while she covered a race in Savannah, Georgia.
Callaway was released on a $1300 bond. Bozarjian tweeted out a video of the incident on Dec. 7, writing, “To the man who smacked my butt on live TV this morning: You violated, objectified and embarrassed me. No woman should EVER have to put up with this at work or anywhere!! Do better.”
To the man who smacked my butt on live TV this morning: You violated, objectified, and embarrassed me. No woman should EVER have to put up with this at work or anywhere!! Do better. https://t.co/PRLXkBY5hn
— Alex Bozarjian (@wsavalexb) December 7, 2019
“What is comes down to is that he helped himself to a part of my body,” Bozarjian told CBS News last week. “I think what is most important here is that he took my power, and I’m trying to take that back.”
Callaway, who initially claimed he was trying to pat her on the back or shoulder, gave an interview to a local news station last Tuesday apologizing for the assault. “I made a wrong decision, a horrible mistake that can’t be taken back,” he said. “I am embarrassed and ashamed and offer my sincerest apologies to Ms. Alex.”
Callaway was also banned from all future races by the Savannah Sports Council.
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