White supremacist Christopher Cantwell arrested on 3 felony charges related to Charlottesville protests

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (UPI) — A white supremacist who was featured in a Vice documentary about the Charlottesville, Va. protests recently, Christopher Cantwell turned himself into authorities in Virginia Wednesday night.

Cantwell had warrants for his arrest on two felony counts of illegal use of tear gas and other gases, and one felony count of malicious bodily injury with a caustic substance. The charges were related to actions Cantwell allegedly committed on the eve of the August 12 “Unite the Right” rally, reported the Daily Progress.

In interviews after the Charlottesville protests, which led to the death of one anti-racism protester, Cantwell said he believes the charges stem from a photograph taken by IndyStar during the protests that show him “pepper-spraying a guy straight in his face as he’s coming toward me,” reported the New York Times.

“I thought that spraying that guy was the least damaging thing I could do,” Cantwell said. “In my left hand I had a flashlight. My other option, other than the pepper spray, was to break this guy’s teeth. O.K.? And I didn’t want to do that. I just wanted him to not hurt me.”

“I don’t think I did anything wrong and I’m looking forward to my day in court,” he added.

Written by UPI writer Ray Downs

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