Urban Unrest

23 September 2006 | Business | Ernesto Aguilar

The Associated Press / LOS ANGELES
Published: Saturday, September 23, 2006 06:21 PDT

Police arrested a man suspected of assaulting a reporter from a radio station that has criticized an El Sereno charter school for allegedly promoting racial separatism for Latinos.

Ramon Flores, 31, of Boyle Heights was taken into custody Thursday near the Academia Semillas del Pueblo Charter School, Los Angeles Police Lt. Paul Vernon said. Flores was arrested on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon and robbery, he said.

Flores is suspected of trying to run down Sandy Wells of KABC-AM radio in June after the reporter finished interviewing parents, students and administrators at the school.

Wells was across the street from the school when a silver sedan sped toward him and jumped the curb onto the sidewalk, Vernon said.

The driver then got out of the car, hit Wells and grabbed an audiotape, Vernon said.

Before the incident, KABC talk show host Doug McIntyre claimed on the air that the school’s curriculum was racist and emphasized separatism. School officials dismiss the accusations.

Wells identified Flores as the attacker from a photo lineup, Vernon said.

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