A 21-year-old man has been arrested after allegedly driving his SUV into a crowd of pedestrians following a peaceful protest in Culpeper, Virginia.
Officers from the Culpeper Police Department were monitoring the conclusion of a lawful protest on Saturday, 14 June, near 801 James Madison Highway when they observed a vehicle driving recklessly through a parking lot filled with dispersing demonstrators.
Police say the driver, identified as Joseph R. Checklick Jr of Culpeper, accelerated his vehicle toward the crowd and struck at least one person. Despite the alarming nature of the incident, no injuries have been reported to law enforcement, and the individual hit by the vehicle has not yet been identified.
Authorities responded swiftly, conducting a traffic stop and taking Checklick Jr into custody at the scene. He has been charged with reckless driving and is currently being held without bond at the Culpeper County Jail after appearing before a magistrate.
In a statement, the Culpeper Police Department confirmed that the investigation is ongoing and that additional charges may be filed pending further findings.
The motive behind the incident has not been confirmed, and police are urging any witnesses or individuals involved to come forward with information.
Public Urged to Assist Investigation
Law enforcement officials have appealed to the public for help in identifying the pedestrian who was struck and for any additional eyewitness accounts or video footage of the incident.
“We are committed to ensuring the safety of all community members during public demonstrations,” the department stated. “Any actions that place lives at risk will be investigated thoroughly and prosecuted accordingly.”
The protest, which had remained peaceful throughout the day, ended with heightened tensions after the incident. Community leaders have since called for calm and cooperation with the ongoing investigation.
Anyone with relevant information is encouraged to contact the Culpeper Police Department directly.
