LF: Minneapolis Rioters Attack Tanker Truck, Rip Driver Out and Beat Him, Driver arrested

Title: Minneapolis Rioters Attack Tanker Truck, Rip Driver Out and Beat Him, Driver arrested
Source: Canoe
URL Source: https://canoe.com/news/world/trucke ... riving-into-interstate-protest
Published: May 31, 2020
Author: Reuters
Post Date: 2020-06-01 00:37:44 by Deckard
Keywords: None
Views: 616
Comments: 3

MINNEAPOLIS — A tanker truck drove into a throng of protesters on a closed interstate near Minneapolis on Sunday, with the driver pulled from his rig and beaten, as major U.S. cities imposed curfews in fear of another night of demonstrations against police brutality descending into violence.

It did not appear any of the marchers were injured when the truck raced towards them on I-35, blowing its horn, sending protesters scattering before coming to a stop, according to the witness and a tweet by the Minnesota Department of Public Security (MNDPS).

Police arrived soon after and arrested the truck driver, who was taken to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, MNDPS said.

Video of the incident shows protesters swarming the vehicle before it comes to a stop.

“The incident just underscores the volatile situation we have out there,” Minnesota Governor Tim Walz told a news conference, adding he did not know the motives of the driver.

A Reuters witness said the truck driver was dragged out of the cab of his tractor-trailer rig and beaten by protesters before he was taken into custody by Minneapolis police. A Reuters photo showed him shirtless and covering his face as he stood next to a police officer.

“Very disturbing actions by a truck driver on I-35W, inciting a crowd of peaceful demonstrators,” the Minneapolis Department of Public Safety said on Twitter. “The truck driver was injured & taken to a hospital with non-life threatening injuries. He is under arrest. It doesn’t appear any protesters were hit by the truck.”

The incident marked the latest outburst of violence following what began as peaceful demonstrations over the death of George Floyd.

Very disturbing actions by a truck driver on I-35W, inciting a crowd of peaceful demonstrators. The truck driver was injured & taken to a hospital with non-life threatening injuries. He is under arrest. It doesn’t appear any protesters were hit by the truck. #MACCMN— MnDPS_DPS (@MnDPS_DPS) May 31, 2020

Floyd, an unarmed black man, died last Monday after a white Minneapolis police officer knelt on his neck, sparking outrage that has swept across a politically and racially divided nation.

Protesters have flooded streets after weeks of lockdowns during the coronavirus pandemic that threw millions out of work and hit minority communities especially hard.

At 10 p.m., WCCO confirmed with the Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office that the suspect was Bogdan Vechirko, of Otsego. He is currently being held custody on probable cause assault.

(credit: Hennepin County Sheriff)

DPS Commissioner John Harrington says it appears that no protesters on the southbound lanes of the interstate were seriously hurt. He estimates that 5,000 to 6,000 people were on the bridge at the time the truck sped through. Harrington says the truck was already on the interstate before the incident, even though it had closed about 40 minutes earlier at 5 p.m. and barriers were in place specifically for the marchers.