News Anchor Arrested for Family Dispute (Video)

Former Bay Area TV news anchor Frank Somerville has been arrested on two separate occasions after disturbances involving his family at his father’s residence in Berkeley Hills.

The incidents, which occurred late Monday night and early Tuesday morning, involved physical altercations and alleged threats. Somerville, who had been intoxicated during the incidents, faced charges of criminal threats, assault, public intoxication, and probation violation. These recent arrests add to a string of personal and professional challenges that Somerville has faced in recent years.

Disturbances and Altercations:

The first incident was reported at 6:36 p.m. on Monday when police received a call about a physical altercation involving Somerville at his father’s home. Upon arrival, officers found Somerville intoxicated and refusing to leave the property despite being instructed to do so by his family.

He allegedly threatened his brother, leading to a physical altercation resulting in non-life-threatening injuries to both parties, including a contusion to his brother’s right cheek. Somerville was subsequently arrested and taken to the Berkeley Jail.

In the early hours of Tuesday morning, at around 3:26 a.m., police received another call reporting Somerville’s return to his father’s home. He had come back in an attempt to locate some lost property from the previous night.

Somerville repeatedly rang the doorbell until the victim spoke with him and subsequently called the police. Responding officers found Somerville sitting in his vehicle, displaying signs of intoxication. He was arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol and violation of his probation.

Previous Incidents and Professional Challenges:

Frank Somerville had been a respected figure in Bay Area local news, associated with KTVU since 1991. However, in June 2021, he was taken off the air during a newscast due to slurred speech.

The situation worsened when, on December 30, 2021, Somerville was involved in a recorded car crash, where he allegedly drove under the influence, slamming his Porsche into another vehicle. Following the incident, KTVU decided not to renew Somerville’s contract, which expired on January 31, 2022.