A California man has been charged after protesters say he pointed a rifle at them during a demonstration in Upland. The San Bernardino County District Attorney’s Office charged Jacob, 38, on June 3 with two counts of assault with a deadly weapon. He is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
The incident happened Monday, June 1, near Euclid Avenue and Foothill Boulevard during what police described as a peaceful protest. Video of the confrontation circulated on social media and was reported by NBC Los Angeles. The footage reportedly shows a man holding a rifle while shouting at the crowd to back away.
Protesters contacted Upland police about what they called a potentially life threatening incident, and officers investigated and made an arrest. The DA’s office said protesters cooperated with investigators and that the incident was captured on video.
Upland Police Chief Darren Goodman told NBC Los Angeles the behavior was unacceptable. He said he hopes people can handle differences of opinion without violence, and also urged protesters to keep their demonstrations peaceful.
In a statement, the Upland Police Department said that thanks to the restraint of the protesters and a swift investigation, “a potential tragedy may have been avoided.”
If convicted as charged, Jacob faces two, three or four years in state prison, or six months to a year in county jail, along with a fine of up to $10,000, according to the DA’s office. No public response from Jacob or an attorney had been reported at the time of this post.
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