FHRITP: Calgary police charge man with stunting for shouting vulgar phrase
Investigating officer says man ticketed after incident was apologetic, embarrassed
Calgary police have charged a man who they believe yelled a vulgar phrase at a CBC reporter while she was doing an interview in April.
Meghan Grant was working on a story about bad behaviour along the Red Mile — a strip of 17th Avenue that is popular among Flames fans during the NHL playoffs — when someone in a truck pulled up behind the camera and yelled "f—k her right in the p—-y."
"That's not cool," the man being interviewed shouted back at the pickup as it sped away while being captured on film by a CBC News camera with its license plate visible.
- Watch his reaction in the video above
Reporters, including many CBC journalists, have become the targets of this vulgar phenomenon during live broadcasts or interviews over the past few months.
Man's name not released
The man accused of yelling at Grant was issued a summons: a fine of $402, or he can choose to go to trial to fight the ticket.
He was charged under the Alberta Traffic Safety Act for stunting, which is not a criminal offence.
Stunting falls under the "prohibited operation of vehicles" section, and is described as performing or engaging in any stunt or other activity that is likely to distract, startle or interfere with users of the roadway.
It is believed to be the first time that police have taken action against an individual for uttering the notorious phrase.
The investigating officer said the man was apologetic and embarrassed, although he has not apologized to the reporter.
He was the passenger in the truck at the time of the alleged offence.
Police have not released the man's name. It may be beneficial for him, as the publicity after Toronto CityNews reporter Shauna Hunt turned the tables on men who taunted her at a Toronto FC soccer game cost one man his job.