TV Reporter Punches Out Rival Reporter At Brewers Cubs Game: Cops

MILWAUKEE, WI — A Milwaukee television reporter was charged Wednesday after authorities say he instigated a fight at a Brewers vs. Cubs game at Miller Park.

Authorities say Adair Bayatpour, 31, a reporter for FOX 6, has been charged with battery and was released on a $2,500 signature bond following booking at the Milwaukee County jail.

According to a police report, "Fox 6 news reporter A.J. Bayatpour punched a victim identified as [WTMJ 4 reporter] Benjamin Jordan and caused a significant injury. Apparently, Mr. Bayatpour was ridiculing a FOX 6 co-worker identified as Mattalyn Anderson. Her boyfriend, Mr. Jordan stepped in to defend Ms. Anderson. The argument escalated and Mr. Bayatpour threw a punch!"

According to a criminal complaint filed in Milwaukee County, Jordan suffered a broken nose, a chipped tooth, and orbital bone fractures.

The criminal complaint chronicled the incident in the 225 section of Miller Park that evening, in which Jordan and Anderson actually invited Bayatpour to sit with them during the game.

At one point as the three were seated together, a dispute between Bayatpour and Anderson brewed up after Anderson showed Bayatpour a photo on her cell phone. According to the criminal complaint, Anderson said the picture represented how she felt.

Per the complaint, Bayatpour reacted to the photo, presumably making a negative comment about it. Anderson reportedly took Bayatpour's comment as negative feedback about her work performance. When Jordan intervened, he demanded that Bayatpour back off, but he refused to move.

Authorities say the dispute simmered for awhile until the end of the game when Jordan asked Bayatpour to apologize to Anderson for the negative comment. As the discussion continued, police said the conversation escalated, leading to the two men insulting each other. That conversation preceded Bayatpour punching Anderson three times in the face.

Police continued, stating that Bayatpour fled the scene and was arrested later that evening.

“FOX 6 Reporter AJ Bayatpour was involved in an altercation at Miller Park last week,” a spokeswoman for Tribune Broadcasting said in a statement. “We can confirm he will not be reporting to the station while the incident is under investigation.”

Update: According to FTVlive.com, an attendee of Friday night's game recorded a fight during the game. FTVlive says this fight is not between the two reporters and it is another fight that broke out at the game.

It was initially believed that this was the fight between Bayatpour and Jordan, however we have updated the story to reflect this new information.

Milwaukee County Jail Photo