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By Tovin Lapan (contact) 
Published Wednesday, Feb. 6, 2013 | 4:31 p.m.
Updated Wednesday, Feb. 6, 2013 | 5:19 p.m.
KINC footage of theft, apprehension
Reporters are taught to stay out of the news, to be observers and not participants, but sometimes being in the news is unavoidable.
On Tuesday a reporter for the Univision affiliate in Las Vegas, KINC, was accosted by a man who stole a necklace right off his neck and then fled. The reporter was working at the time and the entire incident was caught on camera.
Metro Police arrested the suspect, 27-year-old John Pridgen, a short time later.
The reporter, Diego Santiago, was working on a story near North Bonanza Road and West Rancho Drive about the life of day-laborers. He was approached by Pridgen, who he said “appeared to be on drugs.” Pridgen acted aggressively and then, video from KINC shows, grabbed a chain from around Santiago’s neck and sprinted away.
Santiago, who says in his report for KINC that the chain had “sentimental value,” chased after and tackled Pridgen, holding him down until Metro Police arrived.
Pridgen seemed to be upset the TV crew was filming and reporting near him.
Pridgen was booked into Clark County Detention Center, where he remained Wednesday afternoon on $20,000 bail. He faces one count of robbery and is scheduled to make a court appearance at 7:30 a.m. Thursday.
Sun reporter Brian Nordli contributed to this story.
John Pridgen arrest record
12/14/09 - battery with deadly weapon
5/3/11 - battery with deadly weapon
9/1/11 - battery with deadly weapon
3/15/12 - battery with deadly weapon
10/4/12 - battery with deadly weapon
2/5/13 - robbery
WHY IS this animal on the streets?!!??!!?
Come on Tom why would we want a repeat violent offender in prison when we can have a marijuana user. Just keep in mind we are winning the wars on drugs! lmao
Chunky says:
Gutsy move for the bad guy and reporter. Hats off to the reporter for fighting back. Now he can interview the bad guy again when he gets out of jail on bond or probation and we can all share in the touchy, feely, hopey moment before he commits another crime.
That's what Chunky thinks!
Good Job
That arrest record, and this guys' blatant disregard for humanity, are why I choose to deal with the hassle of a concealed/carry weapon on a daily basis.
For a Bank Robber a 20K Bail (So 2K ) - Really? How about Jail for 20 Years if convicted and he had a Gun. We need a Real Prosecutor Not This Nonsense.