Latest news with #JosephChecklick
Yahoo
18 hours ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Man 'intentionally' drives into protesters at 'No Kings' in Virginia, police
Authorities in Virginia arrested a 21-year-old man they said intentionally drove an SUV through the crowd at the town's "No Kings" day event. Culpeper police officers arrested Joseph R. Checklick Jr., of Culpeper, on June 14, at the conclusion of the demonstration. Participants were leaving the area and crossing through a business's parking lot when an SUV drove "recklessly through the crowd of pedestrians," the department said in a news release. Culpeper Police charged Checklick with reckless driving, according to the release. He appeared before a magistrate and was ordered to be held without bond at the Culpeper County Jail. Officers said they stopped the vehicle and identified the driver as Checklick. Their preliminary investigation determined that Checklick had "intentionally accelerated his vehicle into the dispersing crowd, striking at least one person with his vehicle." No injuries were reported to police. The person Checklick is accused of striking with his vehicle has not been identified by law enforcement, the release said. The incident in Virginia occurred as millions took part in coordinated "No Kings" protests from coast to coast, criticizing the Trump administration. The "No Kings" marches, rallies and demonstrations were organized to coincide with the Army's "Grand Military Parade and Celebration, which falls on Trump's 79th birthday and Flag Day. Several years ago, a car drove into a crowd of counterprotesters about an hour from Culpeper in Charlottesville, Virginia, killing a demonstrator. James Alex Fields Jr. was convicted of killing a woman named Heather Heyer, after intentionally driving into a group protesting a 'Unite the Right' rally in Charlottesville on Aug. 12, 2017. Fields was convicted of first-degree and eight other charges, including aggravated malicious wounding and hit and run. Heyer, a 32-year-old paralegal and civil rights activist, was killed, and nearly three dozen were injured during the attack. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Man arrested after allegedly driving into protesters in Virginia
Daily Mail
19 hours ago
- Politics
- Daily Mail
Man arrested after 'intentionally' driving into crowd of protesters at 'No Kings Day' rally in Virginia
A man who police say intentionally drove into a crowd of protestors at a 'No Kings Day' rally in Virginia has been arrested and charged. Joseph R. Checklick Jr., 21, drove his SUV through a dispersing crowd in a parking lot, which led to him 'striking at least one person with his vehicle,' police said in a statement. The protest took place throughout Saturday afternoon in Culpeper, a small town roughly 70 miles from Washington, D.C., where President Donald Trump 's birthday military parade - the event 'No Kings' organizers are trying to counter - has already commenced. As of 3:45pm, the Culpeper Police Department said no injuries had been reported as a result of Checklick's alleged attack. The person who was struck by his vehicle also hasn't been identified. As of now, Checklick has been charged with reckless driving, which is merely a class 1 misdemeanor under Virginia state law. This kind of crime comes with no jail time and a mandatory minimum fine of $250. Checklick could face more charges in the future, as the investigation is active and ongoing, police said. He is being held without bond at the Culpeper County Jail. Culpeper Democrats posted on Facebook, thanking Culpeper Police Department for their 'quick response and for keeping our protest safe.' The Culpeper Police Department told that it asking anyone who has information or witnessed the incident at the protest to contact Detective Payne or email the department at tips@ Because the investigation is still in its early stages, a police spokesperson said 'we aren't releasing any information regarding potential or alleged motives for Mr. Checklick Jr's actions.' Social media reports showed large crowds at the 'No Kings Day' protest in Culpeper, with organizers claiming that more than 600 people showed up. Across the country, there have been some 2,000 'No Kings Day' protests, with attendees pushing back against what they describe as Trump's march toward authoritarianism on issues such as immigration enforcement, civil rights and cuts to the federal government through DOGE. It's unclear what Checklick's possible motives were, but Saturday hasn't been a day lacking in political violence. Early on Saturday morning, a gunman entered the residence of Minnesota state Senator John Hoffman, a Democrat, and his wife early Saturday, shooting both and leaving them critically injured. He then proceeded to the home of former Democratic House Speaker Melissa Hortman, where she and her husband were fatally shot. Vance Luther Boelter, 57, who was appointed by Walz in 2019 to serve a four-year stint on the Governor's Workforce Development Board, has been identified as the suspect in the quadruple shooting Vance Luther Boelter, 57, who was appointed by Governor Tim Walz in 2019 to serve a four-year stint on the Governor's Workforce Development Board, has been identified as the suspect in the quadruple shooting. The first shooting occurred just after 2am at Hoffman's home in Champlin, about 20 miles from Minneapolis. Hoffman and his wife were shot multiple times, KSTP reported. The second attack took place at around 4am at Hortman's Brooklyn Park residence, eight miles south. After that shooting, police engaged the suspect in a gunfight on the street, officials said. Drew Evans, head of the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, confirmed that the suspect escaped during the exchange and remains at large. According to the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, Boelter stands at 6-foot-1, weighs roughly 220 pounds and has brown hair and brown eyes. He was last seen on Saturday morning in Minneapolis, wearing a light-colored cowboy hat, a dark long-sleeve shirt, and light pants. Authorities have urged residents not to approach Boelter if they see him. He is considered 'armed and dangerous.'
