Minooka Man Grabbed WGN-TV Reporter: Police

SHOREWOOD, IL — The Shorewood Police Department arrested a 20-year-old Minooka resident on charges of battery and disorderly conduct following Saturday night's disturbing incident during a live broadcast of WGN-TV's 10 p.m. news near Seil and River roads.

Shorewood police said that during a live television broadcast of the news, Eric Farina grabbed a 37-year-old reporter from Chicago around her shoulders and uttered a profane and disturbing statement. Police said Farina left the area immediately afterward, but Shorewood detectives located Farina on Sunday morning at his house in the 700 block of O'Toole Drive in Minooka, reports show.

"Farina made a full confession and was placed under arrest," Shorewood police said.

Farina was not taken to the Will County Jail, though. Instead, he was released from custody on a $2,500 personal recognizance bond, police said.

On Saturday night, WGN television personality Jackie Bange took to Facebook and asked Shorewood residents if they could identify the young man. "He just assaulted our reporter during her 10 p.m. live shot," Bange informed her followers. "He's an absolute idiot and should be charged with assault!"

One woman who reacted to Bange's Facebook post commented, "After watching the clip I genuinely don't think he intended to assault her but at the end of the day, he put his hands on someone without their consent. I definitely believe it was meant to be harmless but it shouldn't be have happened at all. I hope she's okay and I hope he's able to learn something from all of this."

One man commented on the WGN Facebook thread: "People on here actually see nothing wrong with what this guy did. I wonder if it were their mother, wife or daughter how would they feel? He had no right to touch her period."

Another woman commented on Jackie Bange's Facebook page, "I hope they find him and arrest & charge him, couldn't believe what he did & said. I even rewound to be sure. What a jerk."

In a Shorewood Facebook group, one woman commented: "Horrible for her! I hope (he) gets caught. Police were right there when it happened."