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TV Exec Placed On Leave After Alleged Drunken Tirade

Goldklank Charged With Assault, Resisting Arrest

POSTED: 8:40 am EDT April 22, 2008
UPDATED: 12:29 pm EDT April 24, 2008

The general manager of WHDH-TV smelled of alcohol when she assaulted a police officer and was arrested at Logan International Airport Sunday night, Massachusetts state police charged.

Read Police Report

Randi Goldklank, 40, was charged by Massachusetts state police with disorderly conduct and resisting arrest at 9:35 p.m. after Delta called state police to complain about an "unruly passenger" on an inbound flight.

Goldklank was placed on "administrative leave" by WHDH-TV Tuesday afternoon, according to a statement from Ed Ansin, the president of Sunbeam Television Corporation.

According to the police report, troopers smelled a "very strong odor of an alcoholic beverage from her breath" when they arrived at the gate to meet the flight. Goldklank was reported to have told an EMT she had consumed "about three dozen drinks."

Goldklank had to be held "upright" by the flight crew and "was staggering and attempted to break free from those who were assisting her to the bottom of the aircraft stairway," the report said.

She allegedly struck a trooper in the chest and said, "I'm a big shot in Boston and I'll have your (expletive) jobs. ...you just watch and see what (expletive) happens when I get out of here," according to the police report.

"I'll have a news crew down here in minutes, and you will lose your (expletive) jobs you (expletives)," the report said.

Goldklank said that she was inappropriately touched by a male passenger seated beside her on a flight from Philadelphia to Boston.

Goldklank said that she did nothing wrong and that she defended herself when a man sitting next to her put his hands in an "inappropriate area." She said that when she asked the man what he was doing, he responded, "Doesn't that feel good?"

Goldklank said that she tried to tell police her side of the story.

According to the police report, after she was booked and advised of her rights by police, she told a police sergeant, "You think I'm cute, and I think you're cute. Just drive me home."

Goldklank has been at Channel 7 since 2005. Ansin said "her leave is subject to further review by management." Goldklank was represented by attorney David Eisenstadt in court Tuesday.

"As an attorney, it is not my practice to litigate these matters in the press. I think the process should play itself out and I'm confident my client will be well-served by the justice system," Eisenstadt said in a statement.

Her arraignment was continued until May 19.

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