The owner of an Arizona construction company is facing assault charges after he was shown on a TikTok video punching an employee in the face as he yelled abuse at her for scratching a cabinet.
Brent Hospelhorn, 46, was identified by Phoenix police as the supervisor who was filmed Tuesday yelling belligerently at the mild-mannered woman and other workers on the job site in North Phoenix.
His victim has not been named, and the clip was uploaded to a female colleague’s TikTok account, from where it was widely shared.
Hospelhorn was taken into custody, cited and released, angering social media users who demanded to know why he was not in jail, accusing the police of inaction.
Police released a statement on Wednesday that social media users spread an “inaccurate story” and that claims of a “lack of action” on their part were false. Although Hospelhorn was not in a prison, police said the man is “recommended for charges.”
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Arizona construction company owner Brent Hospelhorn, 46, faces assault charges after a TikTok video shows him punching a female worker in the face for scratching a cabinet
In the video posted to TikTok by Guadalupe Solano, a caption in Spanish has been translated to “no one can treat you like that, even if they own it, simply because the closet was scratched”
The incident happened around 12:30 a.m. at a building under construction near Deer Valley Drive and 56th Street in northern Phoenix, police said.
Hospelhorn, owner of a construction company in Scottsdale called BPH Construction LLP according to online records, was recorded uttering profanities at the workers at the construction site.
‘To leave! Get out of my building right now,” he yells, pointing his finger at the person recording the video.
A woman on the side quietly says ‘no’ and and enraged, Hospelhorn reaches out and slaps her while shouting ‘bastard’.
It’s hard to see how the woman reacts in the aftermath, as the camera focuses on Hospelhorn as he walks away.
In the original video posted on TikTok by Guadalupe Solano, a caption translated in Spanish to “no one can treat you like that, even if they own it, simply because the cabinet was scratched.”
Hospelhorn is then seen on video yelling at the workers about scratches on the cabinets as he kneels down to inspect them.
He tells the person behind the camera that she can keep recording anything she wants, adding, “You’re a goddamn worthless piece of shit”
Hospelhorn, owner of a construction company in Scottsdale called BPH Construction LLP according to online records, was recorded screaming profanity at the workers at the construction site
Hospelhorn is then seen on the video yelling at the workers about scratches on the cabinets as he kneels down to inspect them
“All over my goddamn closets,” he yells. “How many times do I have to tell you f****** people to take off the g****** belt.”
When another worker appears to defend the woman, Hospelhorn yells back, “Bull****, it’s f****** her, it’s her. One hundred percent, because she leaned against her when she came in here.”
“Get that bastard off my desk,” he yelled. “I am the mother ****** super. What I say f****** goes,” he continued yelling.
He tells the person behind the camera that she can keep recording anything she wants, adding, “You’re a goddamn worthless piece of shit.”
Officers were called to the job site where Hospelhorn was held for assault, cited and then released after being “recommended for charges,” the statement read. “Detectives will follow up on this incident.”
Sergeant Robb Scherer, a spokesman for the Phoenix Police Department The Republic of Arizona: ‘Quoting him is not letting him go, he has to go to court.’
Hospelhorn is due to appear in court on May 26.
Police released a statement on Wednesday that social media users spread an “inaccurate story” and that claims of a “lack of action” on their part were false