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Judge calls police to shoo 'O'Reilly' crew
They are given warnings. But a producer says the judge blocked them in his driveway.
By COLLEEN JENKINS, Times Staff Writer
Published August 22, 2007
TAMPA - Circuit Judge Manuel Lopez arrived home Monday evening to find a crew from Fox's The O'Reilly Factor parked in his driveway.
The crew wanted to interview Lopez about his decision to grant bail to a man who later killed a sheriff's sergeant. The judge wanted them off his property - and summoned law enforcement to help.
A Hillsborough sheriff's deputy issued trespass warnings to Brian Lyle, Jesse Watters and Colin Kelly.
The men face penalties only if they return to the judge's home, said sheriff's spokesman J.D. Callaway.
But the show's executive producer said Lopez blocked the men's sport utility vehicle, prohibiting them from leaving.
"They would have left without incident if the judge had let them," said David Tabacoff.
Last week, the judge caught heat after Michael Allen Phillips fatally shot Sgt. Ronald Harrison in an unexplained ambush.
Phillips previously had been arrested in February, but got out of jail in June after Lopez set bail in the case at $30,000, allowing him to go free while he awaited trial on that charge and others.
Lopez told a St. Petersburg Times columnist on Tuesday that nothing about Phillips' criminal history, which included mostly misdemeanors but also some prison time, suggested the violence he would commit two months after leaving jail.
He could not be reached for comment later about his run-in with the TV crew.
Tabacoff said Lopez refused to answer questions. The show's piece on the judge's bail decision airs tonight at 8 p.m. and repeats at 11 p.m.
Footage from the uncomfortable driveway meeting is a likely bet. In April, an O'Reilly Factor crew confronted a Denver newspaper's media expert in the parking lot of a Wild Oats market, then broadcast the confrontation in a negative segment about her.
Staff writer Sue Carlton contributed to this report. Colleen Jenkins can be reached at 813 226-3337 or cjenkins@sptimes.com.
[Last modified August 22, 2007, 00:22:48]
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by Jacobs
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08/30/07 09:18 AM
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Unexplained? BTW officers never found the .45 used to shoot the officer. After shot the sgt. never radios for help?!! I smell patsy all over this. Unmarked car and the kid knew he was a cop? Yeh right. Killed the suspect and ended the case.......
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by Barbara
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08/28/07 11:03 PM
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This just proves that discretionary decisions by judges stinks. We need more mandatory rules. How did this protect the public! This guy had plenty of chances to be "free" and blew every one. Too bad someone paid the ultimate price.
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by Kenneth
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08/28/07 11:51 AM
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I was arrested for tresspasing while trying to make a deposit in my own bank in Seffner and now may serve prison time for it. These reporters get nothing and can walk away after harrassing and threatening a judge at his home address after a decision?
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by Janice
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08/24/07 03:00 PM
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This guy O'Reilly is a sex offender who got away with his sexual harrassment of a female with his money and power
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by David
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08/24/07 12:51 PM
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Tony, Lopez must be like president bush who feels he does not have to explain himself to anyone. Look at how close protesters can get to him. Look at the white house manual to keep protesters away.
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by Helen
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08/24/07 07:41 AM
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How sad, people defending O'Reilly as a news outlet? Get real, idiots!
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by Tony
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08/24/07 06:04 AM
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The O'Reilly Factor sent out a crew only because Lopez refused to talk over the phone. Lopez must feel he is above having to explain himself to anyone.
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by BruntLIVE
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08/23/07 11:04 PM
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This is the saddest example of political banter i've ever seen.
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by Chris
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08/23/07 07:31 PM
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Wake up people. Oreilly uses this cherry picked horrible incident to make a splash. He doesnt really care about the sgt or anyone else but fear. When he scares everyone into having a law changed for a 1 in million case thats scary. Lemmings.
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by George
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08/23/07 06:25 PM
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A guy named Mike Stark did go to O'Reilly's home to interview Bill in his bright red boxers about the falafel fetish and sex harrasment settlement.
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=4005359924897645686
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by Roy
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08/23/07 02:15 PM
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Misdemeanors:
Petty crimes like shoplifting, prostitution, public intoxication, simple assault, disorderly conduct, tresspassing, vandalism.
People with misdimeanors get probation and minor jail time. There is no expectation of violence.
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by Joe
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08/23/07 01:33 PM
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O'reilly is a joke. I'm fine with O'really trying to interview/blame the judge--what I don't like is his blowhard persona and his constant lying and heavy-handed editing (he's much worse at that than even Michael Moore).
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by Joe
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08/23/07 01:20 PM
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Maybe O'Reilly would think differently about this 'journalism' tactic if he were confronted in his driveway when he was sued for sexual harassment by his producer.
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by Bobby
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08/23/07 01:18 PM
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Typiccal O'Reilly garbage and pisspoor manners...
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by Myk
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08/23/07 12:53 PM
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When Judge Lopez witnessed the trespass, as any homeowner might he called the police to file a complaint. As an officer of the court he is empowered to detain suspects, and IMHO had every legal right to preserve the evidence by blocking the vehicle.
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by Myk
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08/23/07 12:35 PM
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Local jails nationwide are experiencing chronic overcrowding mostly due to the drug war. They are under federal mandate to reduce the excess. This filters through to the circuit judiciary, who are constitutionally bound not to set unreasonable bail.
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by Loren
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08/23/07 12:30 PM
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The killer's record was comprised of misdemeanors, NOT violent felonies. Since when is a judged supposed to demand a million dollar bail for a petty non-violent, non-sexual repeat offender? The critics of the judge are not thinking logically.
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by Ken
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08/23/07 12:11 PM
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Bill O is a moron, trying to use intimidation tactics, and his moronic followers should know that harassing somebody in his own property has consequences, I'm glad they got burned.
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by John
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08/23/07 10:35 AM
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$30,000 is a pretty hefty bail. Who put up the $30,000 for this loser?
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by David
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08/23/07 10:20 AM
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see conservatives/republicans always whining about not being treated fairly..waaaah!!!!
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by Big W
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08/23/07 09:50 AM
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Since George Bush is O'Reilly's boss, he is to blame. If it wasn't for the war in Iraq this would have never happened.
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by CJ
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08/23/07 05:22 AM
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Shouldn't have gone on to his property uninvited.
And what was the most recent charge on Phillips that got the low bail? Story doesn't even say.
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by Lee
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08/23/07 01:15 AM
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Please stop with the liberal vs. conservative crap. This judge did not do his job because it is pretty obvious that this guy was a repeat offender and should have not been allowed bail.Initially, the judge agreed then suddenly changed his mind.Why?
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by Don
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08/22/07 07:59 PM
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Dump the Judge. He is paid by the people. Not to say when and what he wants. This is Outrageous.
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by Grumpy
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08/22/07 05:03 PM
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Why can't you write a true article about Bill O'Reilly? He is just trying to bring out the truth about these liberal judges that continue to more concerned about the criminals than about the victims. These judges should be fired ASAP!!!
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by Russ
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08/22/07 04:23 PM
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Clearly, I'm missing something, Jason. How is there a 'liberal' slant to this article?
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by Eric
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08/22/07 03:46 PM
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O Reilly is a great news anchor and delivers great REPORTS. Nothing wrong with asking a judge about his decisions. Not his fault people want to hide and not step up and be held accountable for their actions.O'Reilly > Carlton
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by joe
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08/22/07 03:45 PM
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People are entitled to fair bail, it is a consitutional right. I like my rights, and this "story" has done nothing but enrage people who are too stupid to actually understand how not granting bail would normally have been a greater evil.
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by josh
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08/22/07 03:35 PM
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Sue Carlton - your news is so balanced (sarcasm)
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by Mimi
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08/22/07 02:36 PM
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Didn't those two losers who raped and murdered the Conn. mother and daughters have "nothing to indicate..." oh yeah and what about Carly's murderer Joseph Smith judge let go after repeatedly violating parole.Judges should have them live in their home
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by Scott
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08/22/07 02:23 PM
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This guy wasn't "clearly bad." And what liberal slant? For God's sake people, use your critical thinking skills instead of functioning as O'Reilly's ankle-biting lackeys.
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by Mike
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08/22/07 12:46 PM
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This made Lopez look like a fool. For a judge, he doesn't appear to be too bright.
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by Stephanie
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08/22/07 12:28 PM
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Everybody needs to get a grip on reality. Judges cannot refuse to grant bail to every Tom, Dick, or Harry with a criminal past. We are all guaranteed a presumption of innocence until proven guilty. The judge did his job correctly. Blame the killer.
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by Frank
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08/22/07 12:14 PM
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Jason . . . what do you expect from a newspaper that featured a story about some misfit transexual on its front page on Mother's Day!
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by Perry Mason
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08/22/07 12:06 PM
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The fact that a cop was killed is terrible. The fact that the assailant is dead is good. But ambushing a judge is reprehensible. Moreover, do we really want all judges to be prejudiced before making decisions (good or bad)? I think not!
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