Costa Mesa man faces kidnapping charge after holding FOX 11 photographer at knifepoint
HUNTINGTON BEACH, Calif - An Orange County man is facing a kidnapping charge after threatening a FOX 11 News photographer with a knife Friday night. The FOX 11 photographer and reporter were covering the end of a demonstration in Huntington Beach when 36-year old Christien Petersen approached them and demanded they delete any video he might be in.
Petersen was seen holding a pocket knife and forced the photographer to go to his live truck to delete the video. Petersen was still holding the photographer at knifepoint inside the news van when police arrived.
Petersen was arrested and booked on a $100,000 bail. He faces charges of kidnapping and exhibiting a deadly weapon other than a firearm.
While shaken by what happened, neither the FOX 11 reporter nor photographer were harmed.
The Friday demonstration was part of a national protest over the stay-at-home restrictions over the coronavirus pandemic.