Fox 13 anchor arrested
TAMPA - Fox 13's Good Day Tampa Bay morning news anchor Russell Rhodes was arrested Friday night with his pants undone and had his face bashed in after being accused of resisting arrest
Around 10:15 p.m., an off-duty deputy with the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office spotted a 2006 BMW 325i driving recklessly in a Channelside public parking garage, said J.D. Callaway, spokesman for the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office. The car didn't hit any parked vehicles, but seemed to be weaving erratically, he said.
The deputy stopped the BMW and the driver, Rhodes, got out with his belt undone and his pants unbuttoned, though they were still up. Rhodes appeared to be intoxicated, Callaway said.
According to the deputy, Rhodes tried to walk away from him twice after being ordered to stay put and surrender his car keys. Rhodes didn't identify himself or try to use his name to get out of the situation, Callaway said. When Rhodes tried to run out of the garage, the deputy grabbed him, he said.
He had his car key in his right hand, and when deputies tried to take it, he began waving his hands to keep them from taking it, an arrest affidavit states.
"He began to flail his arms," Callaway said. That's when he was "taken to the ground." Rhodes seemed to have substantial injuries to his face, all of which Callaway said happened when he hit the ground.
He then said he was sorry and that he had panicked because he works for Fox 13, the report states.
Rhodes was taken to Tampa General Hospital for cuts and bruises to his face and then he was booked into the Orient Road Jail, Callaway said. He was charged with obstructing an officer without violence and was released Saturday morning on $500 bail.
Blood samples were taken to see if he was intoxicated. The results should be back next week, Callaway said. Depending on the outcome, he could face an additional charge of driving under the influence.
Rhodes is from Paris, Texas, and has been with Tampa Bay's Fox station since 1994, according to his biography on the Fox Web site. He originally wanted to be an actor or singer, but then realized he couldn't make a living doing it, so he went into broadcast journalism.
Fox 13 offered a brief comment when contacted about the arrest.
"He will not be on the air Monday," said Jessica Moss, spokesperson for Fox 13. For all other questions, she referred to a story the station has on its Web site. The story briefly recounts the incident and said "FOX 13 management is aware of the matter and is reviewing it."
