A dramatic video has surfaced capturing an Ohio State University professor allegedly tackling a cameraman, leading to his suspension. The footage, which has garnered significant attention online, depicts Luke Perez, the professor in question, lunging at a documentarian on Monday. The documentarian was attempting to interview former university president, E. Gordon Gee, at the time of the incident.
The cameraman, identified as Michael Neuman, was accompanied by independent journalist DJ Byrnes outside a lecture hall, where they were waiting to speak with Gee, according to a report by ABC6. Byrnes managed to capture the altercation on film, and the video has since amassed over a million views, as reported by the Columbus Dispatch.
In the video, Neuman, equipped with his filming gear, can be seen being blocked by Perez, who allegedly positioned himself in front of the documentarian to prevent him from approaching Gee.
During the confrontation, Perez, dressed in a striking red coat, is clearly heard shouting “No,” as he obstructs the path of the documentarian.
The documentarian, carrying his gear, claims Perez stepped in front of him to block his path as he approached the former president.
‘No,’ the professor, wearing a bright red coat, is heard shouting.
Perez is seen knocking the man’s phone from his hand, punching at his head, and slamming him to the ground.
The assistant professor towered over Neuman as he laid on the floor, shouting: ‘I told you not to put that in my face.’
As Neuman got to his feet, the professor can be heard saying he ‘shoved’ the camera in his face and made physical contact with him.
Assistant professor Luke Perez, he is accused of exploding on a filmmaker and attacking him
The two independent reporters were at the college to interview the former OSU president, E Gordon Gee (pictured)
The documentarian has lawyered up since the ordeal, and demands legal action.
‘They’re at a public university that’s taxpayer funded,’ his lawyer, Rocky Ratliff, told ABC 6.
‘My client had never been given notice that he can’t be in the buildings at Ohio State and I think all journalists are able to be there,’ he added.
It’s unclear why the professor intervened, but Neuman’s attorney says he was merely asking the former president about student loan debt.
‘My client wants Perez prosecuted and terminated,’ Ratliff told the outlet.
‘This is not the actions of an admirable professor or someone who’s professional. If the roles were reversed, he definitely would already be in jail.’
Before the attack, the freelancers were seeking to question Gee about several serious topics, including his staunch defense of Les Wexner, Ohio State’s top donor, who reportedly had ties to Jeffrey Epstein, per WOSU.
Wexner is set to testify before Congress about his ties to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, but Gee insists he believes Wexner had no knowledge of Epstein’s wrongdoing.
As Byrnes interviewed Gee, he told ABC6 that Perez came out and told them he didn’t consent to being filmed.
DJ Byrnes captured the debacle on video and posted it to social media, it has received over 1million views
The Ohio State University signage on the campus
‘We didn’t even know who he was and we weren’t there for him,’ Byrnes said of the professor.
‘I would never say asking questions of public officials on public grounds is antagonizing. I think more questions should be asked.’
In a statement to Daily Mail, OSU said: ‘We are aware of the incident, and it is very concerning. The faculty member involved has been placed on administrative leave pending a full OSUPD investigation and thorough review of the facts.
‘The incident in question occurred in the evening on Feb. 9, and the faculty member was placed on leave the next day – Feb. 10.’
When asked for comment, Perez deferred the outlet to OSU’s media relations team.
