TV news anchor resists arrest and tries to run from police, ends up with a face made for radio after meeting Mr. Pavement (w/mugshot goodness)

**Terminator** · 01-18-09, 12:22 PM

With before and after (arrest) pics. I'd say he'll be off tv for a while.

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.
He went to the University of Oklahoma and worked at stations in Oklahoma, Texas, Minnesota and then Tampa Bay.
"I used to say I had the best job in the news business," he said on the Web site, referring to the promotion from feature reporting for Good Day to becoming a co-anchor. "This new one may be better."
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."

**Five-0** · 01-18-09, 01:28 PM

And that's the news.

**Pudge** · 01-18-09, 01:57 PM

Stay classy, Tampa

**SPD** · 01-18-09, 02:03 PM

Awesome.

**BigDawg** · 01-18-09, 02:44 PM

And thats the rest of the story.

**kjlaw** · 01-18-09, 04:11 PM

Now back to you Russ!!

**jmur5074** · 01-18-09, 05:49 PM

Someone get makeup in here!! And bring a fork, I need to pick some gravel out of his face!

**BigDawg** · 01-18-09, 07:41 PM

I think the station should give him the police beat segment from now on.........keep it all fresh in his mind!!

Nice picture, its obvious that he had a nice roadside come to Jesus meeting with the Sheriffs Office.

**Rhino** · 01-19-09, 03:12 AM

Originally Posted by Pudge113

Stay classy, Tampa

LOL

http://<a href="http://www.youtube.c...wkUosiayRA</a>

**keith720** · 01-19-09, 03:38 AM

I'll bet his next job has him either asking people if they
"want to super-size that," or "Welcome to WalMart. Would you like a cart!"

**countybear** · 01-19-09, 04:00 AM

heheh... PWNED

**10-42Adam** · 01-19-09, 07:28 AM

And the dumbass of the week award goes to....

**IndianaFuzz** · 01-19-09, 10:32 AM

Originally Posted by countybear

heheh... PWNED

Warning, off topic........but, I'm still kind of new to some of the things said online. I understand what being owned means, but what does Pwned mean? I've seen that and never understood it. Is it just that someone misspelled the word and people kept using it. Or is pwned supposed to be like owned, but so owned that they couldn't even spell it right? I'm clueless on this one. Thought you might be able to enlighten me.