SHENZHEN, Feb. 17 -- The head of a local police branch in the south Chinese city of Shenzhen was removed after he ordered a police patrol for a private banquet and refused to cooperate in an investigation into an assault on reporters, said a statement posted on the local police microblog on Monday.

Wang Yuanping, head of the Dongshen Branch of the Shenzhen Municipal Public Security Bureau, ordered four officers at the local police station to patrol the area around a restaurant on Jan. 21 when he was dining with 18 people, including 13 police officers and retirees and five drivers, the microblog statement said.

Three reporters with the Southern Metropolis Daily were undercover reporting on the banquet and scuffled with the patrolling officers at the end of the banquet. A story published by the newspaper on Jan. 26 said the reporters' cameras were stolen and police who arrived at the scene later helped the officials get away.

The banquet, which included giant salamander and cost 5,025 yuan (803 U.S. dollars), was paid for by Wang, the microblog said, adding that no public funds or vehicles were used for the banquet.

The microblog statement added that the reporters had reconciled with the assaulting officers and would be compensated, but didn't specify by whom.