April Ryan’s bodyguard issued summons over alleged assault of local journalist

A New Jersey court issued a summons Monday against the bodyguard of National Urban Radio Networks White House correspondent April Ryan over the alleged assault of a local journalist.

The incident, which was captured on video, involved Charlie Kratovil, founder and editor of the New Brunswick Today, and Ryan’s bodyguard, Joel Morris, at the New Jersey Parent Summit, where Ryan was tapped as keynote speaker. 

Kratovil was credentialed for the event but allegedly had his camera taken away from him by Morris, who also appears to push Kratovil out of the room, according to video footage.

A second video shows Morris giving the camera back to Kratovil in the hotel lobby while appearing to ask the local journalist to leave.

Kratovil said in a tweet on Monday that criminal charges had been filed, specifying the charges as “harassment, assault, and theft by unlawful taking.”

CRIMINAL CHARGES FILED: April Ryan’s “security guard” will be arraigned 9/12 in Superior Court on charges of harassment, assault, and theft by unlawful taking. pic.twitter.com/yEPzgteD3r

— Charlie Kratovil (@Charlie4Change) August 19, 2019

“This was more than just an assault on me,” Kratovil said on another tweet on Monday. “This was an assault on freedom of the press, and @AprilDRyan should have immediately condemned the use of violence against a journalist.”

This was more than just an assault on me.

This was an assault on freedom of the press, and @AprilDRyan should have immediately condemned the use of violence against a journalist. pic.twitter.com/botpX50uN2

— Charlie Kratovil (@Charlie4Change) August 19, 2019

Ryan often clashed with Trump White House press secretaries Sarah Huckabee Sanders and her predecessor, Sean Spicer.