Reporter punched in face while covering anti-mask event near Traverse City

TRAVERSE CITY, Me. – A newspaper reporter said he was slapped in the face while covering an anti-masking event near Traverse City.

Grand Traverse County Sheriff’s Office is investigating.

“I know the concern you have,” Sheriff Tom Bensley told the Traverse City Record-Eagle. “There are some people out there who are not happy with the news agencies. We had two incidents in a short period of time. “

Record Eagle reporter Brendan Quealy went to the Silver Lake Recreation Area to review an event organized by a group called Citizens Liberating Michigan and promoted on a Facebook page by local allies.

Heather Cerone introduced herself to a crowd of 80 to 100 people on Thursday and said there would be no taping of the event.

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“There’s no report, Brendan,” Cerone said. “We don’t approve of that. So do you feel like standing in front of him? “

Quealy said two men confronted him and one of them pushed him against a fence and punched him in the face with both fists.

Cerone claimed the event was private because the pavilion was rented. But prosecutor Noelle Moeggenberg said the area around the pavilion was “open to everyone”.

“My job is to follow the news, to report it accurately, and that’s exactly what I did,” Quealy said.

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