Cleveland Plain Dealer reporter attacked in newspaper parking lot, car stolen

CLEVELAND - Police are looking for two men who attacked and stole the car of a Cleveland Plain Dealer reporter in the newspaper’s downtown parking lot Wednesday night.

The incident happened at about 9:40 p.m. in the 1800 block of Superior Avenue.

According to the police report, John Caniglia was cleaning snow off his car when two men in a gray, 4-door car that was parked in the same lot, got out of the car and walked up to him. They started talking and then the men threw Caniglia to the ground and punched and kicked him in the head and face.

One of the attackers ran back to their car, while the other jumped in Caniglia’s car, and drove Caniglia’s car into their own car before both drivers took off, the report said. They headed east on Rockwell.

Caniglia told police he did not see a weapon, nor did the attackers mention having one.

Caniglia refused medical treatment at the scene

Police tried to track the location of the vehicle via Caniglia’s Blackberry, but the carrier was unable to “ping” the device. Items inside the car that were also taken include a laptop computer and a wallet.