A Phoenix television reporter was arrested Monday afternoon for relieving himself on the front lawn of a residence while on assignment, police said.

Jonathan Lowe, a reporter for CBS News affiliate KPHO, was among several local news crews covering the arrest of a former Arizona State University football player for sacrificing the family dog, the Phoenix New Times reported Wednesday.

Just after 3 p.m. while in the neighborhood of the player’s home, Mr. Lowe “chose to use the front yard of a residence to relieve himself,” Goodyear Police Department spokeswoman Lisa Kutis told New Times.

“An onlooker from across the street called it in to officers,” Ms. Kutis said. “They approached him, he said he’d had to relieve himself, and they arrested him.”

Mr. Lowe faces a fine of up to $2,500 or six months in jail after being charged by the Goodyear Police Department with one count of violating city code 11-1-30, “public urination or defecation.”

Authorities told New Times that he was arrested on suspicion of the latter, a misdemeanor.

Two rival stations reportedly acquired video of Mr. Lowe being taken away in handcuffs, but declined to air the footage.

KPHO’s news director Dan Wilson told New Times Wednesday that Mr. Lowe was still employed by the station, but his biography on the station website and his personal Twitter and Facebook accounts were offline as of Thursday morning.

“Without a police report, we are waiting to make editorial decisions based on more information, and so we’re looking for that information,” Mr. Wilson said.

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