Carlos Giraldo Sanchez, a 43-year-old Austin Fox 7 television photojournalist, was charged with two misdemeanors after an incident at the University of Texas at Austin last week. The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) released a statement on Wednesday confirming the charges of assault and interference with public duties.
According to DPS, Sanchez was taken into custody and transported to Travis County Jail following the altercation. The statement from DPS detailed that Sanchez allegedly moved towards a DPS Trooper and proceeded to lunge and strike the Trooper with his camera in the lower head and neck area.
DPS emphasized the importance of journalists having access to events but stressed that interfering with official police duties and assaulting a law enforcement officer is never acceptable. The statement concluded by stating that such actions, regardless of the degree, will not be tolerated.
