TMJ4 Reporter Cited for Using Potty Mouth with Cops After Urinating at Bayshore

(Update: Steve Wexler, the general manager of WTMJ-TV, told Jim Romenesko that Koebel is no longer with the station.)

A local television reporter was cited for disorderly conduct when he became belligerent with police after being caught urinating outside of the Apple store at Bayshore Mall.

According to the Glendale police report:

A Bayshore security guard caught Rob Koebel, 41, urinating outside of the Apple store at 10:11 p.m. Aug. 21. Koebel, an investigative reporter with TMJ4's I-Team, lives in an apartment above the Apple store.

The security guard told police he saw Koebel and his friend, a 52-year-old man, leave Bar Louie on their way back to their apartments. The friend told police Koebel had been drinking. When Koebel started urinating outside of the Apple store, the security guard told him to stop, but Koebel ignored him.

Glendale police arrived at the scene shortly. Koebel took his phone out of his pocket, and when police told him to put his phone away, he said, "No, not gonna happen." He then put his phone back in his pocket, but then later took it out again.

When the officer asked Koebel to hand him his phone, he said: 'No, do you know who you're messing with?'

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Police arrested Koebel after he refused to follow commands. When an officer tried to lock the handcuffs, Koebel kept swaying, and officers attempted to steady him against the wall of the business. He lost his balance and fell to the ground, bringing an officer down with him.

When police brought him back to the station, Koebel was uncooperative with officers. When an officer stated he was going to remove his handcuffs, Koebel warned him to "be careful."

Koebel became increasingly uncooperative, saying "Don't play games with me" and "Do you want to take the gloves off or no?" As he was booked, Koebel called an officer names such as "(expletive) face", as well as a derogatory term for homosexual.

Glendale police cited Koebel for disorderly conduct.

In July, Mediabistro reported Koebel was being sued by Milwaukee Public Schools bus driver Melissa Dumas for "ambushing" her on camera and questioning her about a past arrest for prostitution.

Steve Wexler, the general manager of WTMJ-TV, did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the arrest. It is unclear whether Koebel still works for the television station.