97.5 The Fanatic host arrested for allegedly assaulting a cab driver
If you're going to play the "I'm a celebrity" card and expect free cab rides, people should probably know who you are. But that didn't stop 97.5 The Fanatic nighttime host Tom Byrne (Who?) from using his "celebrity" to try and beat a cab driver out of $5 before allegedly beating him with his fists in the street, according to a police report.
97.5 The Fanatic host arrested for allegedly assaulting a cab driver
Dan Gross
If you’re going to play the “I’m a celebrity” card and expect free cab rides, people should probably know who you are. But that didn’t stop 97.5 The Fanatic nighttime host Tom Byrne (Who?) from using his “celebrity” to try and beat a cab driver out of $5 before allegedly beating him with his fists in the street, according to a police report.
Byrne, who turns 31 next week, was arrested around 2 a.m. Monday after a cab driver told police that he had been punched repeatedly by Byrne whom he picked up a few minutes earlier at 12th and Sansom streets. The driver told police that Byrne asked him to pull over at 6th and Pine streets at which point he began to get out of the car without paying.
When the driver asked for payment of $5, he says Byrne refused to pay and said, “I’m a celebrity. This is my neighborhood. What are you gonna do about it?” After the driver began to follow Byrne down the street, Byrne “Grabbed the complainants glasses and knocked them off his face. Defendant punched complainant in face several times and dragged him,” said Officer Tanya Little, quoting the arrest report.
Police apprehended Byrne at 7th & Pine and he spent the night in jail. His girlfriend posted his bail of $500 Monday night. Byrne was charged with aggravated assault, simple assault, recklessly endangering another person, robbery and theft of services. He has a preliminary hearing Feb. 3.
Byrne was scheduled to work his shift tonight, but the station decided around 6:30 that he would not work. Byrne declined comment through 97.5 the Fanatic program director Matt Nahigian. Nahigian also declined comment on how long Byrne would be off-air, or whether he had been suspended over the incident.
Byrne, who grew up in Bucks County, hosts 7 to 10 p.m. weekdays on the Fanatic and Eagles post game shows, was announcer for the Scranton Royals, his college basketball team and later worked at 1490 WBCB-AM. Byrne started working for ESPN 950 AM/97.5 The Fanatic in 2008.
dope— q2again- He should get out of prison before he turns 35 years old. By then, Missanelli will probably be starting his prison term for buggery and the afternoon slot on 97.5 will open up.— Mr. Smith
- never had this problem with Al Morganti. And he's a real celebrity— MilesLong1
- He's the worst host they have. He is brutal. I turn him off as soon as he comes on. Good to know that he's a cretin as well as inept.— Doctor D
Really dude?...you're on RADIO. EVen the receptionist at your station doesn't know who you are.- That's a surprise. He doesn't look obnoxious at all in his photo. Is he Missanelli's younger brother?— nydb
- That picture up there is from the Costa Concordia...my understanding is he trampled a wheelchair bound elderly WWII vet on his way off the ship. — Joe Devola
Comment removed.- fire him - and get him out of the city!— mikey5432
- wadekeyfanclub. THAT WAS FUNNY! I have to find a way to steal and use that line. lol— nopainogain
- Sheesh.— Matt
- A LEGEND IN HIS OWN MIND !!— thin slice of life
- A LEGEND IN HIS OWN MIND !!— thin slice of life
- Love to have heard his on air rant about the Rangers fan assault... but of course I never heard of him.— sillybilly
- Another turd.— tulipwalk
- This shouldn't come as a surprise to any regular listeners of 97.5. That is the exact attitude he displays to callers. Smug, arrogant, aggressive and condescending. He acts like an entitled jock despite having never played sports. Easily the worst announcer at the station; every time he comes on I tune out.— Jcorbalis
- Jcorbalis, I never heard of this clown before and I am sure after today if not sooner he will be out of a job. I hope the cab driver sues him and wins. Dope. — Bob H
- What a damn shame for the cab driver. I hope he sues Byrne dumb a** and takes him to the cleaners. A celebrity? Never heard of the clown until today. Send him to prison where he might become a celebrity for some lonely lifer.— Bob H
- Sounds like someone's gonna be out of a job... What a jerk.— TerryW
- FIRE HIM !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!— zeitgeist
- he's terrible, i'd rather listen to Smithers than Mr. Byrne...— Howdie Holmes
- Way to go, big guy. Now all of us know who you are - a moron.— marty3537
- I was wondering why Tom Byrne wasn't on last night, but I guess it's because he decided to be stupid. It's just a cab driver. Cab drivers in this city need to be knocked around a bit because they drive as if they don't care about our safety. They're worse than the SEPTA bus drivers.— EC1981
- Get over yourself dude. Seriously - you are NOT a celebrity! But guess what? Now you're a criminal. Smart move a-hole.— lyndagrand
- Get over yourself dude. Seriously - you are NOT a celebrity. But guess what - now you can honestly say you're a bully and a CRIMINAL. Good going a-hole. I wonder how many women you hit in your life? Jerk.— lyndagrand
- Goes to show........not what u know but who u know......I wonder what his connection was to get on the air..... probably anther drunk a-ho!
have a nice day
— ghostmarine - This is not entirely surprising given his on air demeanor. He thinks he is a tough guy, but he is really just a jerk. Nice going, trying to stiff a cab driver. (If you think they don't deserve respect, don't put your @$$ in a cab).— Getinline
- He's the worst host on 97.5. It's only matter time before they replace him anyway.— A1Z
- The station should just fire him. Eliminate the headaches and attitude with 1 quick pink slip.— kelprod2
- I'm suprised that no one has touched on the fact that he picked up the cab in the middle of the "gayborhood"..— sister mary francis
- just another tool from the suburbs causing trouble in the city— Drewmcc
- Good, I want Schwartzman on at 6:00, Byrne sounds like a national guy. Brace and Schwartzman are good together.— brmorgen81
- 12th and sampson (rainbow village) at 2am?...interesting— 1stamendment
- Comment removed.
- Comment removed.
- WAY TO THROW A CAREER DOWN THE TOILET.— Pete60
- The beat goes on........sad to see the city continually tarnished by events like this.— Northcountry
- Comment removed.
- What, Missanelli makes so much that they can't pay the other guys enough for cab fare?— mike l
- Uhm you can go to 12th and sansom at night without being gay. You can even go to a gay bar without being gay. I know it's a crazy world out there.— corporatehuman
- Why does it matter if he is in a gay neighborhood? Here's something to think about. How do you know it's the "gayborhood" and why does it matter? I didn't realize gay people were keeping all of us straight people out of their hood.— EC1981
- What a stupid, arrogant, piece of trash (from the middle of nowhere!) with a serious god complex...— Dave 2009
- Fergie's and Finn McCool's, both at 12th and Sansom (NOT Sampson), are not gay bars. Even if they were, who cares?— stefek23
- Dude called himself a big celebrity? Absolutely. In the attempt to get out of a $5 cab fare? No doubt about it.— tibb1
- nothing more unattractive than a man who cant handle liquor— ALB328
- This guy thinks he is somebody hey tom byrne u r terrible u should be fired— the commodore
- It's pathetic that people who talk about sports consider themselves celebrities. I used to think there was nothing worse than Colin Cowturd until I read about this putz.— Repubrebirth
- He's not as bad as Harry "how many times can I use the phrase 'frozen tundra'" Mayes. They all stink and that station stinks.— littlejoe
- I have been in the radio business since 1989, and have been on the air at WBCB— Ramona Matthews
- I have been in the radio business since 1989, and have been on the air at WBCB— Ramona Matthews
