Connect with us

Nevada

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

Published

on

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.

Advertisement

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.”

Advertisement

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.

Advertisement

“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 .

Advertisement





Source link

Nevada

Parts of the Sierra Nevada under winter weather advisory

Published

on

Parts of the Sierra Nevada under winter weather advisory



A winter weather advisory is in effect until 4 p.m. Monday in parts of the Sierra Nevada, the National Weather Service said.

About 4 to 10 inches of snow is expected for areas above 6,000 feet, and 1 to 2 feet of snow is likely at the highest peaks.

The NWS said there will be roadway impacts due to the snow.

Advertisement

As of Sunday morning, there were chain controls over Donner Summit.

  • I-80 westbound is R-2 from the Donner Lake Interchange to Rainbow

Caltrans Quickmap has up-to-date road restrictions. 





Source link

Advertisement
Continue Reading

Nevada

Nevada Assembly passes SNAP backup fund bill, heads to governor’s desk

Published

on

Nevada Assembly passes SNAP backup fund bill, heads to governor’s desk


Senate Bill 3 (SB3), aimed at establishing the Silver State General Assistance Program, has been unanimously passed by the Nevada Assembly Floor.

This measure, which previously cleared the Nevada Senate, is designed to establish a backup fund for SNAP in the event of future government shutdowns.

Andrew Clarke, Revenue Coalition Manager for New Day Nevada, praised the Assembly’s decision, stating, “Thank you to the Nevada Assembly for choosing to invest in the best return on investment there is: feeding families.” Clarke emphasized the program as a response to federal cuts, noting, “Every dollar spent on food assistance for children returns $62 over the course of their lives.”

MORE ON NEWS 3 | Nevada lawmakers reconsider $40M Windsor Park rebuild bill amid proposed amendments

Advertisement

Shelbie Swartz, Executive Director of Battle Born Progress, also expressed gratitude, saying, “Thank you to the Nevada Assembly for passing Senate Bill 3, and thank you to Senate Majority Leader Cannizzaro for bringing this critical measure forward.” Swartz highlighted the importance of the program in addressing food insecurity and criticized the federal government’s approach, stating, “We find ourselves living under a federal government that seeks to punish the most marginalized in our state.”

Nalani Page, a member of AFSCME Local 4041, remarked on the bipartisan nature of the bill, saying, “SB3 is what special legislative sessions should be about: creating bipartisan solutions to address the needs of Nevadans.” Page emphasized the program’s potential to offer hope to vulnerable communities.

André Wade of Silver State Equality commended the Assembly’s actions, stating, “Extraordinary times call for extraordinary measures.” Wade noted the importance of prioritizing the well-being of Nevadans over politics, asserting that SB3 achieves this by creating a general assistance program.

The bill now awaits the governor’s approval to become law.



Source link

Advertisement
Continue Reading

Nevada

Sloan Canyon crushes SLAM! Nevada to claim 4A region title — PHOTOS

Published

on

Sloan Canyon crushes SLAM! Nevada to claim 4A region title — PHOTOS


After a showstopping offensive performance Friday night, Sloan Canyon will take to Nevada’s biggest stage for the chance to complete a perfect season.

The top-seeded Pirates plundered visiting SLAM! Nevada 47-10 to claim the 4A Southern Region championship. Sloan Canyon will face Reno’s McQueen High on Nov. 25 at Allegiant Stadium for the state title.

“This is such a great feeling for us and the boys,” said Pirates quarterback Cade Hoshino, draped in a variety of Hawaiian leis. “We found a brotherhood this season and I couldn’t be happier for these guys tonight.”

Hoshino conducted the Pirates offense with precision, finishing 14-for-27 passing for 219 yards and three touchdowns. Christian Rhodes was his favorite target, hauling in five catches for 82 yards and a touchdown.

Advertisement

Sloan Canyon (12-0) moved the ball well on the ground too, as running back Jermaine Wilson Jr. gained 165 yards on 21 carries, scoring twice.

After the win, Pirates coach Nate Oishi was happy but grounded, emphasizing Monday’s practice more than the state championship matchup.

“They took it one play at a time and they didn’t look up at the scoreboard until the game was over,” Oishi said. “They’ve been doing that all season long — one play at a time, one practice at a time, one game at a time. I’m proud of them.”

Sloan Canyon took control from the opening drive, when defensive back Jerome Johnson picked off Bulls QB Mark Schramm. That interception led to a 5-yard touchdown run from Kalepo Mose.

Early in the second quarter, No. 6 seed SLAM! Nevada (8-5) got on the board when kicker Grant Ploetz connected from 27 yards out. From then on, it was pretty much all Pirates.

Advertisement

Mose scored once more for Sloan Canyon before halftime, on a 1-yard run, to give the Pirates a 14-3 lead.

Hoshino threw his first touchdown pass of the night early in the third quarter, finding Rhodes in the back right corner of the end zone on a rainbow-arc 35-yard pass. On Sloan Canyon’s next drive, Hoshino got the Pirates inside the Bulls’ 10 with a 42-yard pass to Justice Hutchins. Wilson finished the drive with an 8-yard scoring run, making it 28-3.

SLAM! Nevada scored once more, on a third-quarter touchdown pass from Schramm to Malakai Boykin to cut the deficit to 28-10.

Schramm went 9-for-21 on the night, with 79 passing yards, one touchdown and a pair of interceptions. Running back Anthony Edwards Jr. moved the ball well for the Bulls, finishing with 67 rushing yards on 12 carries.

The Pirates scored two more touchdowns in the third quarter: a 7-yard Wilson run and a 2-yard touchdown pass from Hoshino to Brandon Quaglio.

Advertisement

Sloan Canyon put the game away for good on another Hoshino-to-Quaglio TD early in the fourth quarter.



Source link

Continue Reading

Trending