The police have suggested that rioters could be funded to protest around the country and wreak havoc after arresting a young man who allegedly plowed his van into a crowd of people.
As Washington DC authorities revealed, 27-year-old Jeremy Vajko, who is a Microsoft engineer according to his LinkedIn profile, got arrested on suspicion of reckless driving after allegedly plowing his van, which was sprayed with Black Lives Matter graffiti, into a large group of people.
According to the Metropolitan Police Department, the same van Vajko drove on Saturday as he drove “into a crowd of over one hundred individuals” near Hay Adams hotel in Washington DC was previously used during violent protests in Portland and Kenosha.
As the police confirmed, they have begun investigating the possibility that rioters are being funded to travel to and protest at demonstration hotspots.
“There was a reckless driving arrest that received a lot of attention. There was a van that was driving recklessly, potentially could have hit pedestrians and officers in the area. The driver was taken into custody,” Police Chief Peter Newsham said of the matter.
“That vehicle was van, it was registered on the west coast in Washington state. We have intelligence to suggest that van was also at some of the violence we saw in Portland, Oregon and some of the violent activity we saw in Kenosha.
“One of the things that we’re certainly going to do it if it is an organized, funded attempt to create violence in our city, we’re going to do everything we can to get to the bottom of it.”
As the police chief went on to suggest, the reckless driving case could be a part of a domestic terrorism ploy.
According to Mayor Muriel Bowser, the authorities have also gathered evidence that suggests protesters had come in the city to demonstrate from as far as other states.
“We’ve had experience all summer with protest and we’re seeing a shift with who’s involved and the type of tactics being used,” Bowser said.
“I don’t think anything that we have found can connect any outside protester to a single group or funded or organization. Though I don’t think it would be a big leap to say that the type of organization and resources that they’re bringing to bear are organized and funded. I don’t think that would be a big leap.”
Following Vajko’s arrest, the 27-year-old was soon released from custody. As he later claimed, he is working alone and traveling across the country to provide protesters with food, water, and medicine.
“I was out there at the protest. I was handing out water, snacks, food and medical supplies. I had an EMT in my car… we were actively helping people and making s*** out there safe,” Vajko said.
“As they were walking towards me, I tried to move out of the way. At which point, an officer violently smashed my window and grabbed me out of my vehicle and forced me onto the ground.
“They tried charging me with reckless driving however the District of Columbia asked them to release me and cancel the bond.”
Previously, in June, Vajko was arrested for allegedly messing with a Portland officer.point 274 |
A month later, in July, he was once again apprehended in the same city for alleged disorderly conduct.point 85 | Once more, however, he was released from custody without bond.point 138 | 1
In August, the 27-year-old was also stopped by the police in Kenosha where his vehicle was allegedly searched for looking suspicious.
While it is not clear whether Vajko was arrested and if the police found anything troubling in his van, the Kenosha Police Department at the time stated they searched a group of suspicious vehicles and found illegal fireworks and items including helmets and protective vests.
Replaced!