Reporter for Tabloid Faces Battery Charge

A reporter for the Star supermarket tabloid has been charged with felony battery on a police officer for allegedly stabbing the officer with a ballpoint pen after detectives refused to grant the reporter an interview on the death of actor William Shatner’s wife.

Prosecutors said David Pearson Sargeant, 39, was at the North Hollywood Police Station about 2:40 a.m. Tuesday demanding to speak with detectives investigating the death of Nerine Shatner, who apparently accidentally drowned in her pool hours earlier. Authorities said Sargeant became irate when told detectives were unavailable.

“He created this big scene. He wouldn’t leave,” Deputy Dist. Atty. Larry Diamond said.

Authorities said Sargeant refused to leave without an interview.

When officers told the 5-foot-11, 230-pound reporter he would be arrested, authorities said he replied: “If you’re going to arrest me, then I want you arrested for denying me an interview.”

Officer Joseph Miranda approached Sargent to make an arrest but didn’t get the chance, authorities said. Sargeant is accused of stabbing Miranda twice in the right hand with a ballpoint pen.

Diamond said a local television news cameraman who saw the incident ran outside to summon other officers.

“The cameraman runs outside to get the biggest police officer he can find,” said Diamond, adding that officers were able to bring Sargeant to the ground and handcuff him.

Diamond said Sargeant was later released on bail. The officer was taken to a doctor.

Sargeant was charged Thursday with one count of battery on a police officer causing injury, a felony that carries a maximum three-year prison sentence.