White Man Charged With Hate Crime for Walking into NBC Studio & Calling NBC Host "Nigger" Faces 15 Years
NBC admits that no altercation took place and that the man was compliant with police.
Andrew Truelove, 41, was arrested for walking into NBC’s New York studio where he allegedly called Today show host, Craig Melvin, a nigger.
Truelove had stated that he wanted to see Al Roker, but instead found Craig Melvin instead. Melvin then alerted security before a member of the NYPD working a paid detail at the building peacefully detained Truelove.
Melvin alleged that Truelove lunged at him and there was a scuffle. However, when police arrived on scene, Truelove was compliant. It should be stated that the NBC show confirmed the intruder “was detained and taken into custody by law enforcement without further incident,” and that “there was no altercation” or injuries.
He has been on probation since June 18th for criminal mischief and has 8 previous arrests that are mostly the same. He also allegedly attacked a staffer at his Bowery residence back in January—allegedly grabbing the worker’s arm and slamming a door into it. He was charged with second-degree assault, but he has not been convicted of the alleged crime.
He was taken to the Midtown North Precinct and charged with burglary, menacing and criminal trespass as hate crimes—as well as harassment.
The next day during his arraignment, bail was set to $10,000.
During this Wednesday’s hearing, Justice Gregory Carro (the same judge for the Luigi Mangione case) heard arguments that the arrest had violated the conditions set as part of Truelove’s sentencing on a criminal mischief rap just a month earlier. Even if he posted the $10,000 bail in that case, Carro’s decision to remand him into custody for the probation violation means he would still be held behind bars until the case is resolved.
Truelove, who suffers from bipolar disorder, has several out-of-state convictions—including a 2012 arrest in Virginia for stealing signs from two playgrounds honoring the victims of the Sandy Hook mass shooting.
Truelove faces up to 15 years in prison if convicted on the top charge and is awaiting trial in Rikers Island Prison.
