Nevada

Family members arrested in rural Nevada over altercation that Black man says involved a racial slur

Published

2 hours ago

August 8, 2024

Family members arrested in rural Nevada over altercation that Black man says involved a racial slur

RENO, Nevada (AP) — Three members of a Nevada family have been arrested in connection with a verbal altercation last week in Virginia City, where a Black man from Texas said a racial slur was directed at him.

A 74-year-old man, his 67-year-old wife and their 45-year-old daughter were arrested Wednesday. They have posted bail and have been released from the Storey County Detention Center, Undersheriff Eric Kern told The Associated Press on Thursday.

Undersheriff Kern and a spokesperson for justice court in Virginia City both said Thursday that they didn’t know if family members had a lawyer. The AP has been successful in its efforts to locate the three since their names started circulating on social media Monday. No court date has been scheduled.

The man faces misdemeanor charges of noise violation and breach of peace, with the latter charge including an enhancement for committing a crime based on race. Kern did not share any details about what led authorities to add the racial enhancement, making it a gross misdemeanor punishable by up to a $2,000 fine and a year in jail.

The mother faces one count of battery and the daughter one count of obstructing or delaying a police officer. Those simple misdemeanors are punishable by fines of up to $1,000 and six months in jail.

After video of the incident spread on social media, Kern confirmed there was at least one act of vandalism in the form of “tagging” at local business and that deputies are investigating several threats to businesses and business owners in the community.

The incident occurred Friday when Ricky Johnson was collecting signatures for a ballot measure during a popular classic car festival in Virginia City, a tourist town just south of Reno.

Johnson began recording video after the alleged racist comments were directed at him. He said the man’s comments included a reference to a “hanging tree.”

In the video, Johnson demands that the man repeat those words. At no time on the video does that man utter any racial epithets. But at one point Johnson asks him the location of that “hanging tree,” and the man replies “in your backyard.”

A loud, profanity-filled argument followed before a woman told Johnson he was on her property. Johnson repeatedly asks her not to touch him as they move the conversation into the street, the video shows.

Johnson posted the video to TikTok, drawing prompt condemnation from local and state officials. The sheriff’s office interviewed Johnson and others involved, then turned over evidence to the district attorney.

Storey County Sheriff Mike Cullen announced the arrests in a news release Wednesday night. He said his office was “continuing to look at all the information presented and all information preceding the initial video recording and actions of all parties and witnesses leading up to the altercation.”

“Separate from this incident the Storey County Sheriff’s Office with the assistance of the state of Nevada is compiling the threatening and harassing phone calls that continue to come in to our community,” Cullen said.

The arrests drew quick praise from Nevada Attorney General Aaron Ford, who is Black.

“The public outcry was heard loud and clear, and steps have been taken to hold these individuals accountable for their racist and unlawful actions,” Ford said.

Johnson, who is from the Houston area, was in Virginia City working for Advanced Micro Targeting Inc., a Texas-based company that provides voter outreach and get-out-the-vote services. He was collecting signatures for a proposed Nevada state ballot initiative aimed at capping fees that attorneys collect from clients in personal injury cases.

After initially speaking with the AP by phone Monday before returning to Texas, Johnson has not responded to phone calls or texts seeking additional comment.

The verbal altercation occurred in downtown Virginia City, an old mining town that attracts tens of thousands of tourists who walk its wood-planked sidewalks filled with old saloons and stores.

___

Kelety reported from Phoenix .

Source link

Click to comment

Nevada

Who are the top defensive linemen in Southern Nevada prep football?

Published

9 hours ago

August 8, 2024

Press Room

Who are the top defensive linemen in Southern Nevada prep football?

There’s nothing scarier in football than facing a team with a ferocious defensive line.

A few Southern Nevada high school teams have one.

Here is a look at the Review-Journal’s top returning local defensive linemen entering the 2024 season:

Eliah Logo, Liberty

Logo, a three-star defensive end, committed to UNLV in January. He had 22 tackles as a junior last season to help the Patriots reach the 5A Division I state title game.

Logo was a 5A Division I first-team selection by the coaches last year, his first at Liberty.

Steve Manuma, Desert Pines

Manuma has led a strong Desert Pines defense the last three years. The Jaguars will be counting on him again as a senior.

Manuma finished with 36 tackles and nine sacks in eight games last season. He was an All-Southern Nevada second-team selection.

Sione Motuapuaka, Bishop Gorman

Motuapuaka was a key part of Bishop Gorman’s 5A Division I state title and fourth mythical national championship last season.

He recorded 55 tackles and four sacks as a junior. He was an All-Southern Nevada first-team selection and committed to Utah in June.

Prince Williams, Bishop Gorman

Williams was another Bishop Gorman standout last year. He shined as a sophomore, totaling 96 tackles and 10 sacks.

Williams is a three-star prospect and the state’s third-ranked recruit in the class of 2026, according to 247 Sports. The All-Southern Nevada first-team selection’s notable Division I offers include Arizona, Florida, Miami (Florida), Utah and Washington.

Semaj Williams, Legacy

Williams recorded 6½ sacks and 39 tackles last season to help the Longhorns win the 5A Division III state title.

He was named to the All-5A Division III first team by the coaches for his efforts. Legacy will lean on Williams again this year as it moves up to 5A Division II.

Contact Alex Wright at awright@reviewjournal.com. Follow @AlexWright1028 on X.

Source link

Nevada

Three people arrested in rural Nevada over altercation that Black man says involved a racial slur

Published

17 hours ago

August 8, 2024

Press Room

Three people arrested in rural Nevada over altercation that Black man says involved a racial slur

RENO, Nevada (AP) — Three people were arrested and charged Wednesday in connection with a verbal altercation last week in Virginia City, Nevada, during which a Black man said a racial slur was directed at him by a man who also said “they have a hanging tree” for people like him.

The incident occurred when Ricky Johnson was collecting signatures for a ballot measure during the popular Hot August Nights classic car festival in Virginia City, a tourist town just south of Reno. Johnson began videoing after the alleged racist comments were directed at him. In the video Johnson demands that the man repeat the words on video.

A loud, profanity-filled argument on both sides followed before a woman told Johnson he was on her property. Johnson repeatedly asks her not to touch him as they move the conversation into the street, the video shows. At no time on the video is the “hanging tree” comment repeated, nor are any racial epithets uttered.

Johnson posted the video to TikTok on Aug. 2, drawing prompt condemnation from local and state officials. The Storey County Sheriff’s Office interviewed Johnson and others involved, then turned over evidence to the district attorney.

On Wednesday, the sheriff’s office issued a news release saying two women and a man had been arrested and booked into jail. The man in the video was charged with breach of peace, a gross misdemeanor that includes making threatening comments based on race. One of the women was charged with battery and the other with interfering with a peace officer, both misdemeanors.

The arrests drew quick praise from Nevada Attorney General Aaron Ford, who is Black.

“The public outcry was heard loud and clear, and steps have been taken to hold these individuals accountable for their racist and unlawful actions,” Ford said.

Johnson, from Houston, was in Virginia City working for Advanced Micro Targeting Inc., a Texas-based company that provides voter outreach and get-out-the-vote services. He was collecting signatures for a proposed Nevada state ballot initiative aimed at capping fees that attorneys collect from clients in personal injury cases.

The verbal altercation occurred in downtown Virginia City, an old mining town that attracts tens of thousands of tourists who walk its wood-planked sidewalks filled with old saloons and stores.

“I’m still shaking every time I think about it,” Johnson told The Associated Press by phone Monday before returning to Texas.

————

Kelety reported from Phoenix

Source link

Nevada

People are leaving these states to live in Nevada

Published

24 hours ago

August 7, 2024

Press Room

People are leaving these states to live in Nevada

LAS VEGAS, Nev. (FOX5) – People are packing up their homes to live in the Nevada desert.

U-Haul released a report of the top states where people are moving from to make home in Nevada. The report is for the first half of 2024, Jan. 1 to July 1. The report considered the 25 most populated cities.