An Arbitron employee was treated and released at a Maryland hospital after being mistakenly attacked this morning by Inspector Jacques Clouseau, witnesses say.Clouseau, visiting the ratings company at the FCC's request to investigate the Portable People Meter ratings tool, claims he acted in self defense when he perceived that Arbitron's Mary Lou Germophobe was trying to poison him.
Witnesses say that Germophobe was offering Clouseau a cup of coffee when suddenly the French detective launched into a martial arts free-for-all which left the Arbitron employee bloodied and stunned. Clouseau has apologized for the outburst, blaming poor eyesight for triggering his razor-sharp combat instincts.
After counseling, Germophobe declined to press charges.
