In a statement issued Wednesday but posted as if it were a news article, WDIV Detroit VP and General Manager Bob Ellis writes that “We here at Local 4 have been made aware of an external investigation regarding Hank Winchester. As of this time, he has been placed on administrative leave. While the investigation is ongoing – we won’t make any further comments.”
Which is a shame because they could’ve had the scoop that crosstown rivals Fox 2 Detroit got about the “Help Me Hank” watchdog beat reporter’s indiscretions: Last Friday cops executed a search warrant at Winchester’s home and seized his electronics after another man reported that Hank had helped himself to some “unwanted sexual advances” toward the man during a massage. Winchester is reportedly studying massage therapy on the side so the unwelcome Hanky Panky attempt presumably occurred during some sort of practice session but there’s no further detail on that.
Also unclear is why a sexual assault accusation led to a judge signing off on a search warrant, an indication that there’s more to this than just Hank getting a little too handsy.