OUT OF CONTROL

Fresno City Council President Cited for Battery After Lockdown Protesters Confront Him at His Home

The Fresno city council president said some of the protesters had been threatening him online and in public over his support for stay-at-home orders.

The Fresno City Council president was issued three citations for misdemeanor battery late Tuesday after a group of anti-lockdown protesters showed up at his home, the Fresno Bee reports. Protesters in the California city reportedly attempted to force their way into Miguel Arias’ home, leading to a confrontation on his stairs. Arias told the Bee his children were home and that members of the crowd had been threatening him in public and online over his support for stringent shelter-in-place measures. Video shows Arias pushing the leader and other demonstrators away and swatting a recording phone to the ground. Members of the protest group reportedly pursued a citizens arrest after taping Arias apparently pushing one of them. Police Lt. Anthony DeWall said no one was injured. There were three alleged victims and a court date for Arias will be scheduled in 90 days, DeWall said. In a video posted on YouTube, Ben Bergquam, an organizer of the protest, said he didn’t expect Arias to be home at the time and believed the apartment was a “front” to run for office. The Fresno Bee reports Bergquam led a similar protest last year at Gov. Gavin Newsom’s home with far-right conspiracy theorist Laura Loomer.