WPLG Crew Attacked While Investigating Restaurant Health Code Violations

WPLG investigative reporter Jeff Weinsier and photographer Frank Debesa were attacked while looking into a South Florida restaurant with a history of health code violations.

While checking into the China Buffet restaurant, an confronted the crew when Weinsier started asking about the restaurant’s latest inspection. China Buffet was shut down last week by state inspectors for the seventh time since 2014.

“Ma’am, can we talk to someone about the inspection?” Weinsier is heard asking on camera.

Seconds later, a man comes out of the kitchen, shoves Debesa’s camera, grabs at Weinsier’s microphone and physically confronts them before being pulled back inside by another person.

The Miami ABC affiliate said the man who confronted the crew is the same guy who aggressively approached Weinsier during a 2017 Dirty Dining investigation at the same location.

Over the past 10 years, China Buffet has received 546 violations. WPLG said the average restaurant sees about 22 inspections during that time, China Buffett has been inspected 46 times.

Weinsier and Debesa didn’t file charges.

“We were attacked for simply trying to hold them accountable,” Weinsier said. “Instead of answers, we were met with aggression from a restaurant that should be answering to the public.”