Fresno man arrested on assault charge in the wake of spraying of Palestine supporters
A Fresno man was arrested Sunday on an assault charge involving use of a chemical, the morning after several protesters apparently were pepper-sprayed while rallying in support of Palestine.
Brian Lee Turner, 62, was arrested early Sunday on suspicion of assault with a caustic chemical or flammable substance, according to Fresno County Jail Inmate logs.
Fresno Police officials said Turner is believed to be the man caught on video spraying something through a rolled-down car window toward protesters in another vehicle Saturday night near River Park.
About 200 protesters had gathered Saturday night to voice concerns amid the continuing conflict in the Middle East between Israelis and Palestinians, which in recent days has erupted into a state of near-war.
Similar demonstrations have taken place in other U.S. cities.
Police said Saturday that it appeared the confrontation between the occupants in the cars included claims that a flag held by one of the protesters had hit a vehicle.
On Monday, police released new details. Department spokesman Lt. Rob Beckwith said occupants in the victims’ car were stopped next to Turner’s car at a red light and asked him to honk if he supported Palestine, precipitating a verbal argument. One of the three occupants in the victims’ car got out just before Turner sprayed the car, and a victim got out again as Turner drove away and gave chase on foot for a short distance.
One of the men who was hit with what he believed to be pepper spray told The Fresno Bee on Saturday that the suspect had rolled down his car window and began yelling, “‘F all of Palestine” and, “We don’t support Palestine,” before he began spraying something out of a small canister.
Ahmad Qutami, 20, one of the demonstrators, said he was in the front passenger seat of a car with three others when the man, who also was in a car and had a woman with him, rolled down his window and the parties exchanged words.
Police arrived shortly after the incident, Qutami said, but pulled over the wrong vehicle, stopping a car that was directly behind the suspected attacker’s car.
It could not be confirmed what was in the canister, but the description of a burning sensation and skin irritation suffered by the men matches the effects of pepper spray.
“Got all of us, Qutami said Saturday. “Got me and my whole face. In my mouth. My whole neck was red.”
Police are asking anyone with information to contact Crime Stoppers (anonymous) at 559-498-STOP or Felony Assault Detective Justin Baroni at 559-621-2425.
Staff writer Anthony Galaviz contributed to this report.
This story was originally published May 16, 2021 at 9:31 PM.