VA State Senator Louise Lucas (D-Portsmouth) has been charged with 2 felonies with regard to her incitement of the riot that destroyed the Portsmouth Confederate Memorial
VA State Senator Louise Lucas (D-Portsmouth) has been charged with 2 felonies with regard to her incitement of the riot that destroyed the Portsmouth Confederate Memorial and also resulted in the serious injury of a BLM Vandal.
PORTSMOUTH, Va. (WAVY) — Portsmouth Police Chief Angela Greene announced during a Monday afternoon press conference that State Sen. Louise Lucas has been charged with two felonies for an incident at the city’s Confederate monument on June 10.
She, among others, is facing charges of conspiracy to commit a felony and injury to a monument in excess of $1,000.
Portsmouth officials held the briefing Monday afternoon to announce that several warrants that have been secured against individuals more than two months after an incident at the city’s Confederate monument.
Greene issued a statement, but did not take any questions, as the investigation is ongoing, city officials said.
On June 10, the Confederate monument was vandalized and broken apart by protesters, which culminated with a protester being seriously injured when part of the statue fell on him.
Since then, a team of investigators compiled evidence, including video, from that day.
As a result of the investigation, detectives determined that several individuals performed felonious acts and have taken out warrants against them, including Lucas, as well as Portsmouth School Board member LaKeesha S. “Klu” Atkinson, members of the NAACP and members of the public defender’s office.
Here’s the full list of those facing charges of conspiracy to commit a felony and injury to a monument in excess of $1,000:
State Sen. L Louise Lucas
James Boyd, Portsmouth NAACP representative
Louie Gibbs, Portsmouth NAACP representative
LaKesha Hicks, Portsmouth NAACP representative
LaKeesha S. “Klu” Atkinson, Portsmouth School Board member
Kimberly Wimbish
Dana Worthington
Amira Bethea
Here’s the list of individuals facing a felony charge of injury to a monument in excess of $1,000:
Brenda Spry, public defender
Alexandra Stephens, public defender
Meredith Cramer, public defender
Brandon Woodard
Hanah Renae Rivera
Raymond J Brothers
Greene asked that anyone with an active warrant turn themselves in.
The police department is asking for help identifying 13 additional people. Detectives are asking that the public take a look at these photos and reach out if you recognize them. Call the Portsmouth Crime Line at 1-888-lock-u-up. You can remain anonymous.
WAVY News 10 reached out to Sen. Lucas Monday but did not receive an answer. Her attorney Don Scott said he was just hearing about it.
10 On Your Side also reached out to Commonwealth’s Attorney Stephanie Morales to ask about her office not being involved in the process. The police department went straight to the magistrate.
Police body camera video obtained by 10 On Your Side through a Freedom of Information Act request shows Lucas telling officers they can’t stop the protesters. “I’m telling you, you can’t arrest them. Call Dr. Patton,” Lucas is heard saying on the video recording.
Days after the incident, a local attorney started a petition to recall Lucas. She, in turn, filed a $20 million defamation lawsuit against the attorney, Tim Anderson.
Lucas has claimed all along that she did nothing wrong.
The charges against Lucas come one day before the state General Assembly is scheduled to meet for a special session regarding the pandemic, equity and police reform.
Meanwhile, Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam tweeted a response to the charges, saying they were “highly unusual.”
“It’s deeply troubling that on the verge of Virginia passing long-overdue police reform, the first Black woman to serve as our Senate Pro Tempore is suddenly facing highly unusual charges,” Northam wrote. “@SenLouiseLucas, I look forward to seeing you in Richmond tomorrow—so we can get to work.”
Former Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe also tweeted a response to the charges.
“Louise Lucas is a trailblazing public servant who isn’t afraid to do and say what she believes is right. Her opposition to a racist monument is the definition of what John Lewis called ‘good trouble.’ I stand with my good friend,” McAuliffe wrote.
The Virginia Legislative Black Caucus also condemned the decision by Portsmouth Police in a statement Monday.
The VLBC said the timing of the charges against Lucas was suspicious, as the special session for the General Assembly was due to start Tuesday and she planned to patron a bill that would strengthen the “ability to independently investigate police departments statewide,” the VLBC wrote.
JUST IN: @VaBlackCaucus condems the charges brought by @PortsmouthPD to member @SenLouiseLucas calling them "suspiciously timed" and "retaliatory." @WAVY_News pic.twitter.com/l2dlZqIDMn
— Brett Hall (@BrettHNews) August 17, 2020
https://www.wavy.com/news/local-news/portsmouth/portsmouth-holding-briefing-about-confederate-monument-incident-several-warrants-secured/