February 27, 2023 Space Coast Daily News Brevard Countys Best Newspaper, WATCH! John J. Losch, 39, of Ormond Beach, was arrested April 11 and charged with grand theft. The movements leaders recently relocated to the area from California, and they had chosen the Daytona 500, a major NASCAR race that draws more than 100,000 people to the speedway, to make their antisemitic presence known. ORLANDO, Fla. - From a bouquet of flowers to an appreciative high-five, first responders in Central Florida have been recognized for their selfless service. More arrests are expected because the Sheriff's Office is planning more stings, Sheriff Mike Chitwood said. WebWoman arrested for arson after house fire. Chitwood has had white supremacists who have threatened him online arrested and extradited to his county. Deputies took into custody 50-year-old Leonard Rushing, who was treated on the scene for a possible drug overdose and is facing domestic-violence related charges, deputies said. All site content on the CRIMEWATCH portal is the specific and unquestionable property of the appropriate law enforcement agency that maintains, manages and administers content. While European authorities have prosecuted Holocaust denial and other antisemitic sentiments expressed in social media posts, U.S. law is less expansive about what kind of online posts represent criminal activity. This is my community., Volusia County Sheriff Mike Chitwood outside his home in Port Orange, Florida, March 16 2023. Shannon Staley, 45, possession of methamphetamine, possession of paraphernalia. March 13, 2023 Space Coast Daily News Brevard Countys Best Newspaper, HOT OFF THE PRESS! It was determined in the investigation that May burned the child after the boy had urinated on the floor, according to the Sheriff's Office. You know, the place where he was allowed to come and go from the facility for work related purposes while serving out the remainder of his sentence. An armed suspect who fled from police this afternoon in Port Orange shot and wounded a New Smyrna Beach police officer Posted by New Smyrna Beach Police Department on Saturday, November 21, 2020Thomas then drove towards New Smyrna Beach, where he crashed outside of a storage facility in the area of Turnbull Street and Industrial Park Avenue, deputies said. Deputies said they began investigating Rendon on Jan. 11 after a girl reported that he had kissed her on the lips in his classroom. Mercado was already in custody in the Hillsborough County Jail on a charge of grand theft auto when he was arrested on the murder charge, deputies said. Calkins asked Donaldson to dispose of the revolver and semi-automatic pistol, according to the FDLE investigation. FRESH FROM FLORIDA VIDEO RECIPE: Make Grilled Florida Key Lime Shrimp Skewers Delicious! A man was arrested after a fight involving a knife at an RV camp in Pierson on Saturday, according to the Volusia County Sheriffs Office. The fact that he is a sheriff, he said, meant that it was easier to bring the perpetrators of out-of-state online death threats to justice. WebIf the information you provide leads to an arrest, you are eligible for a cash reward from the Silicon Valley Crime Stoppers program. Investigators said the shooter remained at the scene and is being interviewed. The victim was taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. Video showed the deputies were treading water and attempted to break the windows. VOLUSIA COUNTY, Fla. A dramatic rescue this weekend by Volusia County deputies was caught on camera. Volusia County Sheriff Michael Chitwood (right) thanks residents who turned up to counter-protest a canceled demonstration by a neo-Nazi group in Ormond Beach, Florida, April 22, 2023. The two girls were placed under arrest and transported to the Lake County Detention Center. Volusia County Sheriff Mike Chitwood tore into a group of Neo-Nazis agitators making trouble in his community over the past few days. Its typically found in your homebut now, the Volusia County Sheriffs Office is using iPads to help get results while responding to mental health calls. The lockdown was lifted before 3:45 p.m. once the item was cleared. DELTONA, Fla. The city of Deltona could decide Monday night if it will do away with using metal detectors at city meetings. Mercado is being held without bond in Hillsborough County pending extradition back to Volusia County. A citation for littering in Wisconsin last year was the first known charge in the United States related to the Goyim Defense Leagues distribution of antisemitic materials. Chitwood called the program "a perfect opportunity for anyone with unwanted guns" to turn them in and have "total amnesty.". Enjoy Space Coast Daily, Brevard Countys Best and Most Read Magazine, HOT OFF THE PRESS! The Santa ClaraPolice Department hopes thatre-publicizing Cold Casesgives a voice to those who can no longer speak for themselves, with anultimate goal ofgiving answers and a sense of closure to their loved ones. So far three people, including a man from San Diego last night, have been jailed for making death threats against the sheriff. VOLUSIA COUNTY, Fla. - A lockdown has been lifted at Spruce Creek High School after a suspicious item with wires coming from it was found in a trash can on campus Thursday afternoon, according to the Volusia County Sheriff's Office. Please contact the Monroe County Sheriff's Office - Florida Keys if you have any information [READ MORE: Man accused of putting child in oven turns himself in][READ MORE: DeLand-area man accused of abusing baby, causing brain damage]May has been charged with child abuse causing great bodily harm. Police are searching for a suspect who stabbed a Burger King employee Sunday afternoon. Deputies said the item had been concealed by a student before someone found it and notified the school resource officer. Authorities said the drug ring, which has been dismantled, is believed to be responsible for distributing 200 pounds of crystal meth in Volusia County during the past year. CALEA Accreditation/Public Comment Portal. (Suparat Malipoom / EyeEm/Getty Images/EyeEm)VOLUSIA COUNTY, Fla. A bonfire at an outdoor party near DeLand turned deadly over the holiday weekend, the Volusia County Sheriffs Office said. The victim told investigators the abuse happened when Turner would get him high on marijuana when they were living in the same home, according to the affidavit. Jean Macean The man accused of slashing the throats of a couple biking home in Daytona Beach earlier this month is now in the Volusia County Jail. The video had more than 1.3 million views at the time this story was published. Meanwhile, the Goyim Defense Leagues most frequent activities flier drops, banner displays and public demonstrations make up the fastest-growing type of antisemitic incidents in the United States, according to the Anti-Defamation League, but they do not always violate the law. ), Counter-protesters at a planned neo-Nazi demonstration in Ormond Beach, Florida, thank Volusia County Sheriff Michael Chitwood for standing against antisemitism, April 22, 2023. The owners contacted the Columbia County Sheriffs Office.". Sparger sent a message to parents saying the school was in a "Code Red lockdown" after several students overheard another student say he had a bomb on school grounds. DELTONA, Fla. - Two teenagers were stabbed in a fight in Deltona, the Volusia County Sheriffs Office said. A Deltona man accused of pouring boiling water on a 3-year-old boy less than two years after he was arrested on allegations of placing a girl into a hot oven has been arrested, the Volusia County Sheriff's Office announced Thursday. But, then we heard there was a third person there and that's what the horrific noise we heard," Mead said. Volusia Sheriff's Office Meyer, 30, was arrested on March 31 by the San Diego Police Department. Office of Public Affairs & Media Relations ASTOR MAN ARRESTED AFTER SEARCH WARRANT REVEALS CHILD PORNOGRAPHY, GRAPHIC MATERIALS A Volusia County man has been arrested on more than 2 dozen child pornography charges after a search warrant revealed graphic files on his phone and USB device. They didnt like that the sheriff was now effectively declaring war on them. Created Apr 20, 2023 / Updated Apr 21, 2023. Copyright 2019 by WKMG ClickOrlando - All rights reserved. You dont want to fuel the bad guys.. Around 4 p.m., a dispatcher got a call from Joseph Johnson saying he shot his 32-year-old son during a physical fight, Chitwood said. On Friday, April 21, 2023, at approximately 2:11 a.m., DeLand police officers were dispatched to a structure fire at 517 E. Walts Avenue. Deputies said Diana Rodriguez's family noticed the morning on Sept. 30 that the teen and her baby were missing, likely having left through a bedroom window because her cellphone was recently taken away from her. Were going to keep after it, and if youre dealing drugs in Volusia County, one day youre going to hear us knocking on the door.Copyright 2019 by WKMG ClickOrlando - All rights reserved. The arrest happened after the victim received a credit card bill for $7,160.11 on Apr. New documents reveal details of two children's lives before they were accused of opening fire on Volusia County deputies. Andrew Gant, a Sheriff's Office spokesman, confirmed that Terry May, 47, was taken into custody and held on $250,000 bail at the Volusia County Branch Jail. (Nadia Zomorodian, courtesy of Volusia County Sheriff), On Saturday the sheriff went to the airport to personally welcome one of the men. WATCH: Video shows strangers stop car, rescue driver in FloridaDeputies said the incident is believed to be prompted by the mans ethnic origin. Copyright 2020 Silicon Valley Crime Stoppers - All Rights Reserved. Michael Benner, 43, sale of methamphetamine, possession of methamphetamine, possession of alprazolam, possession of paraphernalia. Thanks to our great partners to the north, the Volusia County Sheriffs Office, and the US Marshals Fugitive Task Force, Escaped Prisoner Nathan Barker is Volusia Sheriff Mike Chitwood is seen holding a photo of Richard Golden, March 14, 2023. A Cold Case is a crime, accident or missing person case that has gone unsolved. Silicon Valley Crime Stoppers is a cooperative effort between law enforcement agencies in Santa Clara County, local media, and a volunteer board of directors. Anyone who believes they could be at risk is urged to see a doctor and call the Volusia County Sheriff's Office at 386-248-1777. Hate incidents targeting Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders are on the rise across the nation and across Florida, according to data from several watchdog groups. VOLUSIA COUNTY -- Three people have been arrested after allegedly making online threats against the Volusia County Sheriff over comments he made against a neo-Nazi hate group. On Feb. 21, Florida Highway Patrol troopers responded to reports of a shooting between vehicles near mile marker 113. Were dealing more and more with people who are in a mental crisis, said Sheriff Mike Chitwood. Chitwood, though, has made a point out of naming and shaming the antisemites in his midst, believing that the increased media attention will expose further misdeeds and make it harder for them to hold down employment. Deputies responded to Dewey Boster Park on Friday afternoon for a report of a fight involving eight to 10 people. "It tears at your heart a little bit because you know that something bad happened," neighbor Mike McCurdy said. St. John: TStJohn@volusiasheriff.gov. Anyone who sees the ring is asked to call the Volusia County Sheriff's Office at 386-668-3830 so deputies can reunite it with the owner. Deputies said the operator of the chop shop, Raymond Clark, 34, was arrested in March by the Monroe County Sheriffs Office in the Florida Keys. Authorities brought Tyler Meyer, 30, to the Volusia County jail on Friday night. Deputies took Pratt into custody and transported him to the Volusia County Branch Jail where he was released on $15,000 bail. Bail was set at $6,500. (Volusia County Sheriff's Office)VOLUSIA COUNTY, Fla. A certified nursing assistant is accused of sexually abusing a patient with dementia at a rehab center in Debary. Rodriguez has dark hair and is 4 feet, 10 inches to 5 feet tall and weighs about 120 pounds. As you may recall, last week Barker thought it was a brilliant idea to escape from the Florida Department of Corrections Work Release Camp in Sharpes. [RELATED: NSB teacher Stephanie Peterson gets 3 years in prison for sex with student]Last year, former New Smyrna Beach Middle School teacher Stephanie Peterson, 27, was sentenced to three years in prison for having sex with a 14-year-old boy. VOLUSIA COUNTY, Fla. - A woman who sexually abused a teenage boy for several years gave birth to twins fathered by the victim, according to the Volusia County Sheriff's Office. Deputies are working with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement to locate Rodriguez and her baby, Daniela. The sheriff's office said at the time of the stabbing, the victim was sleeping in front of a Bank of America located on Normandy Boulevard in Deltona. Any images copied March 27, 2023 Space Coast Daily News Brevard Countys Best Newspaper, HOT OFF THE PRESS! Two of the three have already been extradited to Volusia County. Antisemitic groups began planning to hold a public demonstration to oppose him specifically, which Chitwoods intelligence determined was set for this past weekend in Ormond Beach. Vazquez is facing the charge of attempted murder. Copyright 2019 by WKMG ClickOrlando - All rights reserved. Roger Pratt A certified nursing assistant is accused of sexually abusing a patient with dementia at a rehab center in DeBary. Two days after an Ocala woman was believed to have abducted her children from their guardians following an unsupervised visit in DeLand, she was arrested and the children recovered unharmed, a Volusia County Sheriff's Office said. Great job by our partners at Volusia Sheriffs Office and the Marshals Task Force on getting Barker locked down and back in jail where he belongs. WebVolusia County Sheriff's Dept Demographics People Arrested People Killed 19% 6% 75% ^ More Racial Disparities in Deadly Force than 33% of Depts Source: Uniform Crime Report , Mapping Police Violence , LEMAS Police Accountability i Section Score: 32% +1% Source: Police Department Total civilian complaints 0 Complaints Reported A New Smyrna Beach-area man has been arrested on a felony charge of animal cruelty after he used a machete to slash a dog several times, according to the Volusia County Sheriffs Office. Volusia County deputies arrested Roger Pratt, 72, on Wednesday after a staff member at Debary Health and Rehabilitation Center said they saw him abuse the patient and kiss her twice on the mouth. Surveillance video of Vazquez, who deputies said fled following the stabbing, was later found. When deputies found Smith walking down the street in another neighborhood, they said he was still carrying the victims credit cards and IDs. THEY CHARGED VASQUEZ WITH ATTEMPTED MURDER. George A. Rowe, 51, of Myrtle Jo Drive in Ormond Beach, was arrested Wednesday and is being held on $175,000 bond. Expand. The woman told deputies that she had thrown away the pizza and the box, and Smith took it out of the garbage. Rob Lennick, director of the Jewish Federation of Volusia and Flagler Counties, is one of Chitwoods local allies. READ: Volusia County Sheriff Mike Chitwood announces arrest in recent activity by hate group After introducing himself to Golden, Chitwood said, I hope you enjoy your stay. As of Friday morning, Volusia County has reported 6,834 cases since March, an increase by 127 in the past 24 hours. This will take place in the front parking lot of the DeLand Police Department (219 W. Howry Ave.) from 10 a.m. - 2 JACKSON, ERIC LEVAUGHN - Grand Larceny and 2 additional charges, Long, Steven Richard - Felony Petit Theft and 1 additional charge. The DeLand Police Department will be hosting the DEAs (Drug Enforcement Agency) Prescription Take Back Day on Saturday, April 22, 2023. Deputies said witnesses helped them determine that Compton threw the letter opener into the water after the fight was over. All suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. 2023, Hearst Television Inc. on behalf of WESH-TV. If your tip leads to an arrest, you are eligible for a CASH reward. The Volusia County Sheriffs Office on Friday said its deputies were searching for a 15-year-old boy missing out of Ormond Beach. The victim reported that the man who was a family friend had sexually abused her for the past several months. Chop shop bust The vehicles, which deputies said were in various stages of dismantlement, were reported stolen from Orlando, Winter Garden, Brevard County, and Burlington, Alabama, from as far back as 2012. (Volusia County Sheriff's Office)VOLUSIA COUNTY, Fla. Deputies said they recovered 10 vehicles that were reported stolen from across Central Florida over the last decade at a chop shop in Volusia County. Florida Deputy Sheriff's Association. She was charged with neglect but was not immediately booked into Volusia County Branch Jail pending her treatment at the hospital, police said. Find 6 Sheriff Departments A 17-year-old in Deltona was arrested after he was seen on a security camera beating his dog, according to the Volusia County Sheriffs Office. Stay connected FDLE officials said Deputy Brian Calkins, with the Orange County Sheriffs Office, gave Volusia County Deputy Phillip Donaldson two firearms he said he got from a cousin. Upon searching Mumfords vehicle, deputies discovered two handguns and ammunition, two bags of marijuana and a bag that was tested presumptive for fentanyl, deputies said. "I honestly took heroin because my back was hurting," Smith, 28, told the officials. CompStat Crime Reports. They didnt like that the sheriff was now effectively declaring war on them. The Volusia County Sheriff's Office said a suspect in a stabbing has been arrested. A Deltona teen who ran away with her baby after her cellphone was taken away was found in Maryland, the Volusia County Sheriff's Office said Wednesday night. The federation is known locally for running several charitable programs, including food pantries, meant to reach people in need across the entire community, and Chitwood has a good relationship with them. He and the officers who opened fire are being praised for their bravery after running towards a man who investigators say had a gun and was shooting at them. The city said it received threats two years ago and put them in as a precaution. Deputies said the shooting was captured on a body camera and the footage could be made available Sunday morning. April 10, 2023 Space Coast Daily News Brevard Countys Best Newspaper, A MUST-READ! and stay anonymous, #siliconvalleycrimestoppers #svcs #stayconnectedstayanonymous #cashrewARDS, DID YOU WITNESS THIS CRIME? April 24, 2023 Space Coast Daily News Brevard Countys Best Newspaper, HOT OFF THE PRESS! If you have any information for the listed cases you can submit an anonymous tip here with Silicon Valley Crime Stoppers. In the meantime, Chitwood, 59, the sheriff of conservative Volusia County since 2017, recycled comebacks hed honed as a boy in South Philadelphia: Ask me if I give two s---s what you think. On Thursday, Floridas Republican governor, Ron DeSantis, signed the bill into law during a ceremony in Jerusalem after Randy Fine, the Jewish Republican state representative who authored it, delivered it to him there. (Volusia County Sheriff's Office)VOLUSIA COUNTY, Fla. A grand jury handed down two first-degree premeditated murder indictments against a man who police say stabbed a Daytona Beach couple to death as they walked back from Bike Week. He was taken to the Volusia County Branch Jail where he remained in custody Thursday morning on $71,000 bail. Im sure in his mind that seemed like a good idea at the time, however, last night reality hit when he was taken back into custody by members of the Volusia County Sheriffs Office and the US Marshalls Task Force including BCSO Agent Rick Clements who is assigned to the Task Force. A man who was acquitted last month over two years after being accused of dragging an unconscious woman to his car and raping her in Ormond Beach was arrested again Thursday, according to the Volusia County Sheriffs Office. The sheriff wants to go further in his crusade. He hopes to send a message to hate groups more generally that he intends to keep up the heat so that they know they will face resistance from law enforcement if they attempt any public demonstrations: I think that makes it a little bit harder to peddle your wares.. There is now a national spotlight on these GDL punks, Chitwood said. VOLUSIA COUNTY, Fla. Two men from Sanford were arrested on Saturday following a shooting on I-4 that was caught on camera, according to the Volusia County Sheriffs Office. Rodriguez has dark hair and is 4 feet, 10 inches to 5 feet tall and weighs about 120 pounds. Sheriffs office helicopter video also showed the moment deputies were able to get her back to land. Deputies said the shooter is talking to detectives and cooperating with the investigation. According to the sheriff's office, a DeLand man, 38-year-old Wynell Pitts, completed two drug transactions in his car after dropping off his child at day care Thursday morning. Authorities have not released details about who was killed or what led to the shooting. Community members are urged to submit their (Nadia Zomorodian, courtesy of Volusia County Sheriff), In the end, the planned neo-Nazi demonstration against Chitwood on Saturday never took place though a large group of what the sheriff described as professional counter-protesters did show up, flying joint American and Israeli flags and thanking him for standing up to antisemitism. The girls parents told deputies they were previously concerned about Rendon after her mother had seen Rendon with his arm around her daughter at a Deltona park. Rushing also has an active warrant out of Flagler County for violation of probation, deputies said. READ: Man accused of double murder in Daytona Beach held on no bondIt appears for whatever reason the defendant just picked these two folks out and committed homicide, Larizza said. This sheriff is not like all the others, in a sense, said Oren Segal, vice president of the ADLs Center on Extremism. The shooting was reported just after 7:15 p.m. at 333 E. Highbanks Road, according to a release from Sheriff's Office spokesman Andrew Gant. Spruce Creek High School was locked down Thursday due to suspicious item, officials said. 2023 Maverick Multimedia, Inc. All Rights Reserved |, Brevard Zoo Sea Turtle Healing Center Performs Specialized Treatment on Injured Juvenile Buoy, VIDEO: Space Coast Sports Hall of Fames Dr. Jim Richey Established Eastern Florida State as Athletic Juggernaut, REAL ESTATE: Under Biden Administration Rule Set to Take Effect Today, It Pays to Not Pay, Health First Foundation Raises Record $438,000 During Annual Golf Classic at Suntree Country Club, OBITUARY: Former NASA Protective Services Employee Karen Jeanne Amrol Hooper Dolan Passed Away April 22, Volusia County Sheriffs Office Arrests Escaped Prisoner from Brevard County, Economic Development Commission of Floridas Space Coast. Massachusetts woman arrested for placing swastikas at Jewish womans home, Netflixs Rough Diamonds brings viewers into the drama of Antwerps Orthodox diamond district, Sofia Richie, Lionel Richies daughter, marries Jewish music executive after converting to Judaism, Sammys Roumanian, iconic Lower East Side Jewish restaurant, mounts a comeback. Youre walking a fine line, he said. The Santa Clara Police Department's Investigations Divisionis committed to investigating all crimes, including Cold Cases. Orlando Sentinel Apr 28, 2023 at 10:24 am Volusia County deputies charged a nurse for allegedly stealing the identity of her patient. Operation Deal Breaker targeted several areas where the Sheriffs Office has received complaints about an abundance of drug activity, agency spokesman Andrew Gant said. According to police, the head-on collision happened Saturday at 7:11 p.m. in Deland. The News 6 at Nine team likes to highlight stories from the Central Florida community showing first responders who are going beyond the call of duty and humanizing the badge. If you need help with the Public File, call 407-291-6000. VOLUSIA COUNTY, Fla. The Volusia County Sheriff's Office said a suspect in a stabbing has been arrested. Kat Wilcox/PexelsVOLUSIA COUNTY, Fla. - A gunman is being interviewed after a fatal shooting in DeBary on Monday afternoon, according to the Volusia County Sheriff's Office. THANKFULLY THE VICTIM DID SURVIVE DETECTIVES USE SURVEILLANCE VIDEO TO HELP THEM FIND THE PERSON RESPONSIBLE. last year called Nazis rallying in his state jackasses but drew criticism for not condemning them more forcefully. Lennick praised Chitwood for taking a very strong forward position against these neo-Nazis, against these white supremacist groups coming to our community. (Lennick arrived in Volusia County last year after leaving the Jewish Federation of New Mexico, which, The sheriff wants to go further in his crusade. On Thursday, Florida Power & Light presented a $10,000 check that will provide 12 iPads to supervisors in the sheriffs office that will make that connection happen. A friend took Goodrich Jr. to a nearby fire station for help. And you have all these entities looking at you.. Turner was arrested Thursday on a charge of sexual battery on a minor older than 12 and younger than 18. Carlos Aguirre Rendon Carlos Aguirre Rendon, 29, of Longwood, is facing two felony charges of lewd or lascivious conduct and witness tampering. WebVolusia County Branch Jail Caller Service Box 2865 1300 Red John Road Daytona Beach, FL 32120 Every year Volusia County law enforcement agencies arrest and detain 32,340 offenders, and maintain an average of 899 The shooting is the second one on I-4 in Volusia County in recent weeks. The victim was taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. Arrest and charges: Meyer was arrested March 31 by San Diego police and charged with making a written threat to kill or do bodily injury. Contact Det. The caller said the employee suffered lacerations to the face and fingers, Bendayan said. A 15-year-old girl from Deltona and her 11-month-old daughter have been reported missing and is believed to have run away, according to the Volusia County Sheriff's Office. This week, a surprise delivery was made for Brevard County Deputy Chaney Rice. VOLUSIA COUNTY, Fla. - A total of six people were arrested Wednesday after deputies raided two drug houses in Central Florida, according to the Volusia A search warrant was also obtained, and during a search of Vazquez's home Friday, deputies say jeans and a jacket with blood stains were found, along with a mask and multiple knives. WebHome Departments and Divisions Public Protection Corrections Inmate Booking Fees and Daily Subsistence Fees Effective October 3, 2022, Volusia County Government will Our program allows anonymity to those who submit information about serious crimes as we do not ask for names or personal information from our tipsters. But, he said, he remains committed to trying to fight antisemitism in his own backyard at the very least. The issue is especially acute in Florida, where the populations of Jews and avowed antisemites are both growing. WebWelcome to the Volusia Sheriffs Office The men and women of our organization have pledged to protect and serve with courage, honor, and integrity by fighting crime, Standing with local Jewish, interfaith and minority group representatives, the sheriff had announced he would be coming after the scumbags who did this. The sheriff himself confirmed his positive COVID-19 test Friday on social media in an update on the countys virus total. Eduardo Valle, 64, was working on a neighbor's silver Hyundai car at her home in the 1500 block of Zinnia Drive, Sheriffs Office spokesperson Laura Williams said. He mused that the fact that so many neo-Nazis now have Chitwood in their crosshairs creates an inadvertent bond between law enforcement and the Jewish community, that theyre both being harassed by antisemites., Lennick had advised local Jews not to attend the site of the protests, not even to participate in the counter-protests.