Police arrested a local man after he drove his plow truck near a crowd at Chapman Park in Rockland on Saturday, knocking some to the ground with ice and snow, according to the Rockland Police Department.
Michael Robinson, 65, of Rockland was booked in Knox County Jail on the charges of felony reckless conduct with a dangerous weapon and driving to endanger. Additional assault charges are expected to be added at his arraignment, police said.
The Audacity, a local pro-democracy group, held its weekly demonstration in Chapman Park on Saturday.
The Rockland Police Department said in a Facebook post that it is “dedicated to upholding the First Amendment rights of all citizens to peaceably assemble and express their views” and that
it would increase its presence at similar upcoming events.
“We will not tolerate acts of violence, theft or assault and our priority is to ensure that every individual can exercise their rights safely and without fear of being targeted by criminal acts for their beliefs,” the department said.
Correction: The story has been updated to correct the name of the organization that held a demonstration in Rockland on Saturday.