Videos do exist, but I do not have permission to post one yet. This social media post is shared with permission.
EDIT: Statement from the Mayor:
This afternoon, Tuesday, July 7, a group of people, largely students, gathered peacefully to demonstrate
their support for Black Lives Matter at the front entrance of Newton City Hall. Then, a potentially
dangerous act occurred.
A man who had been conducting business inside City Hall was leaving and he confronted the
demonstrators verbally.
The man then got into his pick-up truck and reportedly drove aggressively toward the demonstrators
(even though there was another exit available).
We are fortunate that no one was hurt.
The Newton Police Department is actively investigating this incident. Members of the Mayor’s staff
witnessed the incident and have given statements to police. This is an active investigation. If you have
information, please contact the Newton Police at 617-796-2100.
I take Newton’s core values of respect, acceptance and diversity seriously, and am deeply disturbed by
what was reported to have occurred this afternoon. People have a right to peacefully protest.
Wait – was the Mayor in attendance at the event?
Let’s take everything at face value. Why is V14 including the name of a minor in blog that describes an attempted attack with a deadly weapon (a car), when the alleged assailant (probably mentally unstable) has not been apprehended? Does V14 have the permission of the minor’s parents?
Jeffrey, the tweet poster is a NNHS graduate. I believe Imani graduated in 2019. Also, not to speak for her, but I believe Bryan is just trying to amplify her message in her tweet.
The video is on FB. Bryan was right to post. Despicable behavior. These were kids protesting.
Fig, if she is an adult who gave permission, I am OK with it.
Jeffrey, I think Bryan mentioned at the end that he shared it with permission. I do agree for what it is worth that if it was a minor it shouldn’t have been shared, although I doubt my kids would agree with me..
I’m glad no one was hurt.
@Amy – I am told the Mayor was not present at the time the incident occurred but was afterwards.
@Jeffrey why do you assume that he is mentally unstable?
Here is the Globe story.
https://www.bostonglobe.com/2020/07/07/metro/newton-police-investigate-after-man-interrupts-protest-speeds-through-crowd/?event=event25
Chuck. The author says that the perp sped his car through a crowd of mostly children. I think someone who does this is probably mentally unstable. I am not assuming, but I am saying “probably.”
The original report from the student notes officers were present in some form but did not engage. That is a key point I think our students wanted to point out…I want to know more about that and any investigation into their actions or lack thereof at the event…or if the vehicles were just parked and the officers inside…
I’m troubled that the actions of the perp are described as driving (seeking an exit?) and not assault. Attack someone with a vehicle and you get the benefit of the doubt…
@jeffrey I’m don’t say this to argue, but I hear the “mentally unstable” concept come up in some situations but not others. Is everyone who threatens a kid with a deadly weapon mentally unstable? If not, who is? If so, then is our criminal justice system set up wrong?
This gets to some of what the protest he disrupted is about. Who gets to be called “mentally unstable” and who is viewed simply as a criminal? Who gets to go home when a judge says he doesn’t want to ruin a young person’s life, and who gets life in prison at 18? All of this is part of the core argument.
I’m not willing to dismiss or soften his actions just yet.
How was this allowed to happen?
At every single protest, a major risk is somebody driving into the crowd. Time and time again some sociopath decides to express their views with a lethal vehicle.
We had sixty kids out front of City Hall and no one took steps to prevent an altogether predictable act. An altogether predictable, potentially deadly act.
This should never have happened.
Thank goodness nobody was hurt.
@Sean
Presume you are suggesting a uniformed officer should have been there who could have de-escalated the situation?
@Adam – I’m with you – I tried to word it as “just the facts” as I could. I tried not to use hyperbole because I think the act – and Imani’s description of it – speak for themselves.
Chuck, I am sorry for saying that he is probably mentally unstable. I am not a psychiatrist. My point (which appears to be incorrect) is that V14 should not include names of minors without parents’ permission. Just so you know where I stand–people who commit violent crimes should go to jail, mentally unstable or not.
There is a video of the truck and license plate, and he drove into a crowd of people . . . with police witnessing it, and he wasn’t STOPPED by police????? AND there was an alternate way of exiting! I am wondering why after he attempted to drive into a crowd of people, the police didn’t stop him right there and issue a ticket. I wasn’t there, but my kids have seen the posts on IG.
My teens want to know why the police didn’t protect the crowd, which is a good question, that I don’t have the answer.
And the additional question is, how would those who serve and protect handled this if he were a POC? Not just the safety issue of vehicular assault, but the initial obstruction of peaceful protesters. Differential justice is at the core of the outrage.
Bryan — yeah, I was referring to the Mayor’s press release really. I appreciate that it’s not easy putting out a delicate PR like that, but I hope the police would treat this as assault, not a driving infraction. This guy did have the right to make rude remarks to the peaceful protesters, but no one has the right to drive through a crowd of people. Whether there was another exit available is not relevant.
Chuck,
The video is online. If you don’t brand this individual as unstable, I will state with utter confidence that that behavior was sheer recklessness. Anyone that speeds through a sizable group of humans isn’t thinking clearly. People can publicly congregate to state their views when it is done in a fashion that doesn’t endanger, incite violence, threaten, attack, or insult others. This incidence strikes me as tying into the All Lives Matter mentality. This attitude is nothing more an attempt to undermine Black Lives Matter.
@Jason I’m with you 100%. I only call into question the desire to place a “mentally unstable” label on an individual because we don’t do that for everyone. This happens with gun violence all the time. White shooters are often labeled as “mentally unstable” while non whites are “violent.”
Was this a reckless act? Yes. Am I willing to provide the driver with the out of being “mentally unstable”? No I am not.
Why didn’t the mayor stop him? If the cops won’t she should.
People might be surprised to know just how many times people intentionally use their vehicles to threaten people on foot who might be in their way. Especially, “men in pick up trucks.”
I watched the video of this driver’s behavior. That behavior was so irresponsible that I personally hope that the Newton Police apply for an immediate threat suspension of his driving privileges. The fact that no one was injured does not lessen how dangerous and reckless that conduct was. Driving is a privilege and he clearly abused that privilege in a most dangerous way. They undoubtedly know who he is and can apply to the Registry of Motor Vehicles for an immediate suspension of his drivers license apart from any criminal actions they may pursue. They should do that immediately in my opinion.
Shawn,
I sense some sarcasm given your “men in pick up trucks” comment. If you are being facetious, please watch the video. There is a difference between people being in one’s way, and a person acting like an enraged dummy. These types of incidences are happening at an increasingly alarming rate. The parties around the board are responsible for the madness. Some of the perpetrators drive pickup trucks. If I am wrong regarding your intentions, then I apologize for making an accusation.
@Jason – I am not entirely understanding your question. My comment was from the perspective of a cyclist. I bike everywhere. Countless times a person has revved their engines at me, middle-fingered me, yelled at me, and even “rolled coal”-ed me just simply as I was biking along, maybe slightly in the way of the driver being on the side of the road.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rolling_coal.
I’ve biked everywhere for a decade. And pretty much these incidents – just like the one in the student’s video – with the engine revving angrily – are always undertaken by “a man in a pick up truck.” I can’t think of any cars that have tried to get me in this way.
I chalk it up to a sense of aggrieved privilege on the part of these drivers. They feel their perspective is right enough that they are actually allowed to threaten your life with their large vehicle.
My view would be that this type of threatening action with a multi-ton pick up truck toward students is attempted murder, frankly. Or at least assault with a deadly weapon.
Shawn,
You answered my question. I misunderstood your comment.
I would like the mayor to address the officers who are reported as sitting and doing nothing, apparently not even pursuing the vehicle after it left the scene. Their behavior should also be investigated.
My initial reaction was one of disgust – it still is. But in reading everyone’s comments for the past 48 hours, a common theme is repeated…”why didn’t the police in proximity do anything to stop it?”
Based on the videos posted…
1. It happened very quickly. At human nature’s best, the officers either did not see the entire incident, or was too slow to react. At worst, with all the fervor to Defund…
2. What this man said was appalling. Only his heart of hearts knows if it was rooted in racism, pro-life or both, but regardless is he not entitled to the same freedom of speech as the rest of us? Again, NOT condoning, just looking it at from a legal point of view.
3. And on the point of legal….while honking ones horn and revving one’s engine is provocative and aggressive, is it illegal? The video also showed a protestor or two aggressively approaching the vehicle with shouts and middle fingers. It’s imaginable that any arm chair defense attorney can successfully argue that this man felt endangered and was simply trying to flee. With video, a license plate, the media – traditional and social – if charges were intended to be made, they would have.
Again, NOT condoning this man’s actions in any way, shape or form, but curious what attorneys in this group think strictly from a legal point of view.
@matt the other consideration is intent. There is another exit to that driveway, so the driver moved through the crowd purposefully. He also honked his horn as he did, meaning he intended to disrupt.
And while the driver didn’t hit someone, there could have been a kid NOT paying attention to the truck and could have gotten hit. I wasn’t there. But, he had another exit and it was his choice to be a jerk and nearly hit teenagers. That is reckless to me. And thank goodness a kid wasn’t hit. We all know that teens pay attention to their phones. Kid could have had airpods on and gotten hit very easily due to the drivers reckless behavior. The driver made a choice to act recklessly.
Matt Lai, to your second point: The gentleman certainly is entitled to express his views, and he did so. He could’ve chosen any number of ways to speak his mind, including taking aside a few of the student protestors and saying, in a non-confrontational way, “I understand you’re very passionate about this issue, but I have some strong reservations about what you’re saying. Could we take a few minutes to talk?”
Instead, he chose to exercise his First Amendment rights in a calculated, deliberately disruptive way, and got the reaction he had every reason to expect — and perhaps actually wanted.
@Shawn Fitzgibbons: Let me veer off-topic for a moment to disapprove of your blanket invective against “men in pickup trucks”. You are intelligent enough to recognize that this is a stereotype.
Your stereotype is unfair to a lot of terrific, hard-working people. The Newton Community Farm, like all farms that produce the food you eat, depends on pickup trucks. The farmer, Greg Maslowe, is an absolutely wonderful guy. Our landscapers (women as well as men) also rely on pickup trucks. They are some of the most gentle and kind-hearted people I know. All manner of tradespeople, contractors, road and utility workers, and others need pickup trucks. You depend on these people more than you think. Play nice!
There’s now a Change petition calling on the Newton PD to do their jobs and arrest this scumbag:
http://chng.it/xhytnKLdNZ
Thanks Phil. I signed the petition as – like most of you – agree the person acted very poorly in this situation.
Will be interesting to see if anyting legal can be done. Very astutue of the petitioner to use the word “reprimand” vs “prosecute”.
@chuck, I don’t disagree with you but seen too many episodes of “Law and Order” where intent alone was not enought. I guess we will see…
@Matt Lai,
Keeping in mind that while the courts are technically open, the courthouses are still closed, I would argues that yes – there is something that can be done; the driver can be charged with reckless operation of a motor vehicle in violation of General Laws Chapter 90, Section 24. The relevant language provides that:
Whoever upon any way or in any place to which the public has a right of access, or any place to which members of the public have access as invitees or licensees, operates a motor vehicle recklessly, or operates such a vehicle negligently so that the lives or safety of the public might be endangered…shall be punished by a fine of not less than twenty dollars nor more than two hundred dollars or by imprisonment for not less than two weeks nor more than two years, or both…”
Based upon the videos, statements of witnesses, the Newton PD can apply for issuance of a criminal complaint against the driver and let the wheels of justice move forward.
The operative language of the statute focuses upon operating a vehicle in a manner that endangers the lives and safety of the public. It isn’t the honking of the horn that is in issue but, rather, how he took off so quickly through a very crowded area. Now the video doesn’t show whether people had to jump out of the way of the vehicle. But the conduct doesn’t have to be life threatening – it can be either or – endangering lives or endangering safety.
As to some individuals approaching his vehicle, I think he would have a difficult time arguing that he was threatened or intimidated by pedestrians when he stopped and argued with them while safely ensconced in a very large vehicle.
@Fred – the Mayor wasn’t there.
City of Newton MA – Mayor’s Office
Charges Filed After Incident
During Newton City Hall Demonstration
After a thorough investigation based on witness statements and video evidence, the Newton Police are charging a 55-year-old male from Needham with:
• Operating a motor vehicle so as to endanger
• Failure to use care when starting a motor vehicle
This incident occurred in the circle at the front entrance of Newton City Hall on Tuesday, July 7, during a gathering of 40-50 people showing their support for Black Lives Matter.
I think there are a lot of lessons to learn on both sides (if anybody’s open to learning a lesson from this). Clearly people were going in and out of the City Hall, as this guy was there. So the high schoolers were on the top step and around. The guy was provocative. He was just looking for a fight, trying to trap him, and the high schoolers didn’t have an effective way of dealing with him, a provocateur, and just about fell into his trap. (Did he really expect to have a civil discussion about abortion right there and then? Were the teens prepared for dealing with this trap?) I see seasoned politicians having trouble dealing with hecklers and people ‘in your face.’ Did they have a plan? Was there an experienced person there with them to help soften any confrontation? To de-escalate a situation? I think you have to have some plan, not just say or yell “Go away.” He does have a right to be there, as do they. It’s not quite true what was written above, that he came out of the building and started questioning them before they had a chance to even begin, as you can see he is in the parking lot looking toward City Hall and the high schoolers when the exchange begins. I didn’t see the video showed any cops. Were cops there, sitting in their car, or were they standing around? (I have seen the Newton police be very good at de-escalating situations. ) I also saw the man was in his vehicle in the circle, completely stopped, and one young man started running over to him and shaking his fist at him. WHY? That wasn’t dangerous??? or asking for trouble? Why didn’t the teen just leave him alone? And let him drive away?
@Jane H,
I can’t recall the source- I believe it was from someone at the scene who wrote that the driver was parked facing Commonwealth Ave. Thereafter he made a u-turn in the drive – which clearly had a lot of pedestrians, and drove forward. I inferred from the video that he was therefore driving towards most of the individuals congregated there. If true, he clearly did not need to turn his vehicle around to exit and this could be construed as very provocative.
As for de-escalation I agree with you. It is important for people of all ages to learn techniques to de-escalate when confronted with a volatile situation. We are never too young nor too old to learn new lessons.
Jane H. – He did come out of the building just as they were getting started – looks like he began with his interruptions/comments when he reached the bottom of stairs (not sure why that’s important to you, though.) And there were adults there, and they did step in. In the videos, he seemed eager to argue with teenagers and at least one adult woman (hard to tell with masks) but he headed back to his truck pretty quickly when an adult man stepped in and asked him to leave. From eyewitness accounts, the police officers who were there were at the Comm Ave entrance/exit (the exit he chose NOT use, even though he was parked on the far side of the circle and could have easily driven directly out that exit without coming near where the kids were standing.) You’ll notice in the videos that once the guy started walking to his truck, the attention (and the focus of the videos) turned back to the speaker – it was over, and no one was paying attention to him. And then he aggressively pulled away from his parking spot *on the other side of the circle* and instead of just driving directly out via the Comm Ave exit (where the police officers were) he whipped around the circle toward the kids while beeping his horn. He stopped briefly while people got out of his way – that’s why he was stopped in the circle – then he gunned the engine and drove aggressively out the Homer St. exit. It’s clear that when that guy walked away from the protest and back to his truck, as far as the kids were concerned, it was over. And it would have been if this guy had just gotten in his truck and driven away. But apparently it wasn’t over for him, and he felt the need to assert himself one more time by driving aggressively around the circle – making kids (some teenagers, some a lot younger!) get out of his way. Some tough guy.
The man has been charged
https://www.universalhub.com/2020/needham-man-charged-plow-through-teens
@Lisap and @Tricia,
I appreciate your filling in the gaps in the sequence. The video doesn’t show how he was originally parked and that he turned back, or how the provocation began – where the video begins the conversation seems to be quiet – and there seem to be 4 videos each showing a segment but the in between isn’t clear. Yeah. He may have come in through Homer – if he was coming from Needham that’s more likely – and come around the circle to go back to Homer – and Needham – but that’s kind of immaterial… To avoid trouble, and to avoid the crowd, so that nobody was hurt, a concerned thing would have been to go out the Comm exit. OR maybe he avoided that exit bc that’s where the police were. I haven’t yet heard that the police were right there in the mix. (Seems they were parked by Comm AVe?) If that’s the case, then they could not have de-escalate the situation. Too bad. I say again that I have directly experienced the Newton police as pretty good at de-escalation.
I think the guy was a provoker. Took all kinds of people’s lives lightly. The police were correct to solicit information and to Quickly file charges of endangerment, and more.
Who knows. Maybe he’ll be sentenced to an anger management class.
Maybe in the future the City needs to do something about this circle situation when there are protests, as there have been numerous protests outside City Hall recently, and there hasn’t been any direction – signage or cones, for example, put up even temporarily to direct motor vehicles and protestors in such a way as to protect the public. You would think it would be common sense, but these are uncommon times where emotions are running very high.
@Lisap, what is your retainer and how can I sign up?? 🙂
Thanks for your fasciniating input.
@Matt Lai-
Thank you – you have no idea how much that comment gave me joy, and made me smile. Mostly my criminal cases are court appointed appeals. So, I hope you never need me.
L.
I am no fan of BLM. There are better ways to protest one’s dislike of the group. Note that the Antifa/BLM rioters were left alone to burn and loot. It seems like inaction by officials may be the new normal. Both violations need to be dealt with vigorously.