Well, here's the full story. I'm not sure if it'll appear in the print edition. So enjoy.
By Muhammed El-Hasan Staff WriterIf the occasional heated argument and bruised ego on the reality TV show "Sunset Tan" seem intense, at least there's no spitting.
On Sunday at the LA Sunset Tan in Redondo Beach -- where an episode of the reality TV show was recently taped -- two men allegedly entered the business, with one of them spitting in a manager's face, according to witnesses and a police report.
Adding to the drama, one of the two men is allegedly the owner of a competing tanning salon chain."It's like tanning salon wars," said Tony Trutanich Jr., who owns the LA Sunset Tan at 1020 S. Pacific Coast Highway. "He's just really upset that we're opening up and putting him out of business."
Added Trutanich's wife, Anna, who oversees the store and witnessed the incident: "It was shocking."
When asked about the alleged assault, Redondo Beach Police spokesman Sgt. Phil Keenan said, "It sounds like a reality TV show, doesn't it?"
The incident was captured on the store's video security system, according to Trutanich and Keenan. But Trutanich's lawyer declined to allow a Daily Breeze reporter to see the footage.
(Tony Trutanich, a real estate investor, is the son of the late owner of Tony's on the Pier and Tony's Fish Market in Redondo Beach.)
LA Sunset Tan, a Beverly Hills-based tanning salon with its own reality TV show on the E! Entertainment channel, opened the Redondo Beach location two weeks ago in a glitzy grand opening that included the show's stars, a red carpet and valet parking.
The Trutaniches, who own the Redondo Beach franchise, plan to open three other South Bay locations within the next 18 months.
According to the police report, Charles Agozino of Los Angeles allegedly entered the store and angrily demanded to speak to Trutanich. Agozino was accompanied by Steven Biale, who owns Cop-a-Tan, a tanning salon chain with nine locations including six in the South Bay, Keenan said.
Anne Vangelisti reportedly told Agozino that Trutanich was out of town. Then, while allegedly spewing verbal abuse against Vangelisti, Agozino walked out the door with Biale. Agozino walked out the door with Biale. Vangelisti locked the door behind them.
"The victim unlocked the door to allow a customer in and the suspect then tried to enter. And when she tried to stop them from entering, he spit in her face, according to her," Keenan said.
Vangelisti said the incident was "pretty scary," and added, "They reeked of alcohol."
The two men then left in a black Mercedes, according to Keenan. Redondo Beach Police stopped the pair, but determined the driver, Biale, was not driving under the influence.
Spitting on another person is technically battery, Keenan said."The city prosecutor's office would have to gather information," Keenan said of the investigation.
Keenan said it was unclear what precipitated the alleged attack, or what Agozino's relationship is with Biale.
Biale and Agozino could not be reached for comment Monday. Biale did not return a message left for him at a Redondo Beach Cop-a-Tan store.
Tony Capozzola, a Redondo Beach attorney representing Tony Trutanich, referred to Agozino as Biale's "little henchman."
"If these allegations are true, there are several actions we might consider, both civil and criminal," Capozzola said.
Mike Misetic, a spokesman for LA Sunset Tan, said the incident was unlikely to appear in an episode of the associated reality TV show. He added that the alleged attack also will not affect the tanning salon chain's plans to expand in the South Bay.
"Sunset Tan is here to stay," Misetic said.
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