White supremacist from Vice documentary surrenders to police
Christopher Cantwell, a white supremacist who appeared in a Vice documentary following the Charlottesville, Va., “Unite the Right” rally, has turned himself into Virginia police, according to The New York Times.
Cantwell turned himself in to the Lynchburg Police Department in Virginia, days after he had warrants issued for his arrest. He had been held at the Blue Ridge Regional Jail in the town and will be transported to Charlottesville, according to the Times.
Police at the University of Virginia on Wednesday issued a statement that they had been notified Cantwell turned himself in but did not disclose when he turned himself in.
{mosads}The Albemarle County Commonwealth’s Attorney’s office issued four warrants for Cantwell’s arrest earlier this week, including two felony counts of using tear gas illegally and one count of malicious bodily injury by means of a caustic substance.
Cantwell appeared in a viral video following the Charlottesville rally, where he was seen crying at the prospect of being arrested. He told the Times in a previous interview that he believes he may be arrested because of a photo of him spraying a man with pepper spray.
“I thought that spraying that guy was the least damaging thing I could do,” he told The New York Times over the weekend.
“In my left hand I had a flashlight. My other option, other than the pepper spray, was to break this guy’s teeth. OK? And I didn’t want to do that. I just wanted him to not hurt me.”
Cantwell participated in the Charlottesville rally organized by white supremacists earlier this month. Members of the alt-right and counterprotesters clashed at the event, leading to the death of one woman and the injuries of more than a dozen others.
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