TV Reporter Seeking Criminal Charges Against Man Who Slapped Her On Camera

A TV news reporter covering the Enmarket Savannah Bridge Run found herself becoming the story after she was slapped on the backside by a runner live on television and now she's pursuing criminal charges against the man who she says "violated" her.

Alex Bozarjian was covering the road race in Georgia when the man, identified as Thomas Callaway, ran up behind her as she was speaking on live TV and slapped her on the buttocks. Bozarjian, 23, can be seen pausing in shock, before completing her while Callaway, dressed in a long-sleeved blue shirt continues to run the race.

"To the man who smacked my butt on live TV this morning: You violated, objectified, and embarrassed me. Bozarjian tweeted shortly after the incident. "o woman should EVER have to put up with this at work or anywhere!! Do better."

"What is comes down to is that he helped himself to a part of my body," Bozarjian told "CBS This Morning." She said not only was the slap on her backside a violation of her body, it was also physically painful.

"He separates himself from the runners and he kind of winds up and, you know, he hit me hard," Bozarjian said. "It was a heavy impact."

Callaway sat down with WSAV to talk about the incident, saying it should never have happened.

“I’m thankful for this opportunity to share my apology," Callaway said. “It was an awful act and an awful mistake."

"I am not that person that people are portraying me as. I make mistakes, I’m not perfect and I’m asking for forgiveness and to accept my apology," he told the outlet.

Callaway said he'd become caught up in the moment and regrets how attention has turned to his actions and is no longer focused on the event itself. Callaway has been banned from participating in future events by the Savannah Sports Council, a decision which he says he accepts.

Meanwhile, Bozarjian said she's still considering whether to accept Callaway's apology.

"I think what is most important here is that he took my power, and I’m trying to take that back. And whether I am open to it or not, I want to take my time with that," Bozarjian said.

Bozarjian has filed a report with the Savannah Police Department.


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