Alycia Lane, the Philadelphia newswoman who punched a female NYPD police officer, was relieved after appearing at Manhattan Criminal Court today. The Manhattan DA's office basically dismissed her case, for an "adjournment in contemplation of dismissal."
Prosecutors said the female cop's injuries "were not serious enough" to support the felony assault charge, so charges were reduced to obstruction of governmental administration and harassment. Lane, who allegedly called the cop a "dyke bitch" during a run-in with plainclothes police officers in Chelsea, must serve one day of community service and keep out of trouble for the next six months and charges will be dropped. And Lane apparently already served the community service in Philadelphia, so New Yorkers won't be seeing her a la Naomi Campbell or Boy George.
Lane told reporters, "I just want to say I'm so glad this is over." Sadly, the tabloids don't feel that way. Luckily, her lawsuit against former employer, CBS affiliate KYW-TV, which fired her because "it would be impossible for Alycia to continue to report the news as she, herself, has become the focus of so many news stories," is still moving ahead.
Photograph of Lane, with boyfriend Chris Booker, from Philly.com
