Newsman Punched Mid-Interview Near Mayor's Queens Presser: Report

FAR ROCKAWAY, QUEENS -- A Queens man was arrested on Tuesday for sucker punching a TV newsman near Mayor Bill de Blasio's presser at a Far Rockaway public housing complex, authorities said.

Tim Fleischer, a multimedia journalist for WABC TV's Eyewitness News, was punched in the right side of his face at around 12:45 p.m. while interviewing residents of the New York City Housing Authority's Ocean Bay Apartments, the New York Post reported.

Cops told Patch the 54-year-old reporter was talking to residents at Beach 56th Street and Beach Channel Road, a few buildings away from de Blasio's press event at the apartments to announce the resignation of embattled NYCHA Chair Shola Olatoye.

“The perp walked up to him and said, ‘Are you guys doing a story?’ and then proceeded to punch him in the jaw,” a police source told The Post.

Efram Lacroix, a 31-year-old who lives two miles from the NYCHA complex, was arrested after a cameraman chased him down Shore Front Parkway and held him until officers arrived, authorities said. He was charged with assault and harassment.

Fleischer was taken to Long Island Jewish Medical Center for his bruised, bloodied cheek, an NYPD spokeswoman said.

Later that day, Fleischer announced on Twitter that he was "On the mend" and thanked supporters for their "kind comments, concerns and well wishes."

(Lead image: New York City Housing Authority's Ocean Bay Apartments, where TV reporter Tim Fleischer was punched in the face on Tuesday a few buildings down from Mayor Bill de Blasio's press event. Photo via Google Maps)