Hundreds of protesters could be seen across the street and there is no telling who among them might get violent, decide to go on a looting spree, or worse. Jacob Bracken was fearing for his safety and his friends. So he pulled out his rifle just to warn the protesters to stay away. He did not fire or put his finger on the trigger. He was simply feeling intimidated by the massive crowd that was starting to bleed over towards them and letting them know he was not going to be their next victim. But that’s not how the police see it. Protesters took pictures and video of the Bracken and reported him.
“Jacob Daniel Bracken, 38, of Rancho Cucamonga, faces two counts of assault with a deadly weapon related to the incident in Upland on Monday, the San Bernardino County District Attorney’s Office said.
Even though Bracken did not fire the rifle and no one was injured, Upland Police Chief Darren Goodman explained the assault charge: “You point the weapon at someone with the intent to intimidate and the weapon being loaded itself.”
One video shared by a KNBC reporter at the scene showed Bracken take the AR-15 out of a pickup truck, yelling for the crowd to “back the f— up.”
Goodman said they have videos as well as still photos that “conclusively showed” Bracken pointing the weapon at some point.”
Watch The Clip Below.
His friend explained the situation:
Explanation from a friend of the man who pulled out the gun. The suspect does NOT live at that location. pic.twitter.com/FZ2Kl4GUZQ
— AlexVnews (@alexvnews) June 2, 2020
“The Upland Police Department said that after the 6 p.m. curfew passed, while some protesters left, others stayed and refused to comply with the command to disperse. Several officers were pushed by protesters, and rocks and bottles were thrown at officers. Officers deployed pepper balls and two sting balls to push the crowd back before it ultimately dispersed without other arrests.”
I get that he pointed a loaded weapon at people and in an ordinary circumstance, he would be in the wrong. But Bracken here was obviously fearing for his life and was just letting a huge crowd know not to mess with him. That group of “peaceful” protesters later broke curfew and the police were forced to use pepper spray and rubber bullets to get them to disperse. Who is to say that some of those same people were not in the crowd at the time Bracken warned them. He may very well have prevented an incident. But instead of the protesters who are blatantly breaking the law, he gets charged.
Sounds like the police and city cuncil needs to be arrested given the rational given for arresting this man.
MAN SHOULD FIGHT THIS CONVICTION IN COURT… COPS WERE DISGRACEFUIL ARRESTING HIM.. PEOPLE WERE IN VIOLATION OF THE CURFEW LAW…& WERE BEING DISOBEDIENT
Well it sure looks like some people still believe in the real laws in defending self and protecting others
Pity the poor police chief. Either he simply does not understand the right to self-defense or he is cow towing to the mob. He should resign in shame.
Easy to arrest law abiding citizens, they tend to follow police instruction. The true assault comes from those threatening bodily harm to the legally armed citizen. The outlaws tend not to follow police orders.
That is why they are called Banditos.
Maybe I missed it but I didn’t see any of Chief Goodman’s men/women doing ANYTHING to prevent the mob from continuing across the street and continuing to incite violence.
Would have done the same. Fave saying right now is the one that begins, “IF you try to break into my house, better first get right with Jesus…” You’ve prob heard or read the rest. We have the right to protect our property, our very lives.