Former TV Personality Chris Hansen Arrested For Allegedly Failing To Pay For Pro
Chris Hansen, former host of Dateline NBC segment “To Catch a Predator,” has been arrested for allegedly bouncing checks. What was he buying? Promotional products.
The former television host was charged Monday with issuing a bad check, allegedly failing to pay a $13,000 bill despite a police warning. He ordered 355 ceramic mugs, 288 T-shirts and 650 vinyl decals from Promotion Sales LTD (asi/301160) in Stamford, CT,
The Stamford Advocate reported.
Three months after receiving invoices for the goods in September 2017, a person working for Hansen sent a Hansen News LLC check for the entire amount, according to the arrest affidavit. However, police said the check bounced and Peter Psichopaidas, owner of Promotion Sales LTD, reached out to Hansen, who apologized and attempted to make a partial payment.
Psichopaidas then filed a complaint with police last April after still not receiving payment. Hansen agreed to make a statement at the Stamford police station, but never showed up, the affidavit said. A few days later, Psichopaidas said he refused Hansen’s offer to make four partial payments, the affidavit said. Hansen then promised his wife would drop off a check, but she never showed up, authorities allege.
Police warned Hansen that if he failed to pay the invoice, he would be arrested for larceny. On April 27, 2018, Psichopaidas said he received a personal check from Hansen for $13,200, which bounced three days later, according to the affidavit.
Hansen emailed Psichopaidas the day the check bounced. “Peter ... I truly thought I had this covered,” Hansen wrote, according to the affidavit. “I am scrambling to get it done. Please give me till the end of the day. I sold a boat to cover the rest of this and need to pick up the payment this afternoon.”
Psichopaidas said another check never came, and an arrest warrant was issued for Hansen, who turned himself over to police on Monday and was released without bond.
Hansen previously offered coffee mugs and T-shirts as part of a 2015 Kickstarter campaign intended to revive "To Catch a Predator,"
The Los Angeles Times reported. It’s not confirmed whether those products were also ordered through Promotion Sales LTD.