Sandy MaloneSanta Barbara, CA – Police are looking for a man who attacked a member of the Trump car convoy as it made its way through Santa Barbara on Halloween.
The incident occurred at about 3:20 p.m. on Oct. 31 in the middle of the road in the 1100-block of East Cabrillo Boulevard next to the volleyball courts, according to a post on the official Facebook page of the Santa Barbara Police Department.
Police are trying to find a man who was protesting the caravan and flipping off people in the Trump flag-flying group of cars.
The suspect was with a woman in a bikini who carried a “Dump Trump” sign, according to the Santa Barbara police.
The victim told police that he and the suspect did not know each other before he was assaulted.
“The suspect was a beach goer that had been harassing numerous citizens on the beach and passing motorists before he attacked the victim after taking the victim’s hat and American flag that was affixed to his car,” the police posted.
Police said the driver got out of his car to confront the man who had grabbed his hat and flag, and the suspect attacked him, KCAL reported.
The man who was attacked landed on the pavement in front of an oncoming car.
Fortunately the car was able to stop before the man was struck.
Police said the man who was attacked was injured in the altercation, KCAL reported.
The attack was captured on video and after committing the assault, the suspect fled toward Butterfly Beach.
Santa Barbara police and Harbor Patrol searched the area but were unable to locate the suspect, according to the police department’s post.
Police released pictures on Facebook and asked for the public’s help to identify the culprit, KCAL reported.
“The suspect is described as a white male adult in his thirties, approximately 6’ tall with a thin to medium build, short brown hair, green or blue eyes, with tattoos down both arms,” Santa Barbara PD wrote on their Facebook page. “The suspect was wearing dark colored swim shorts with no shirt, and no shoes.”
Police are also looking for the bikini-clad woman with the “Dump Trump” sign who accompanied the man.
“The suspect was accompanied by a white female adult, 25-30 years, with blonde hair, wearing the pink and blue bathing suit in the photographs attached to this bulletin. Anyone with information is asked to call the Santa Barbara Police Department at 805-897-2346,” the police department posted.
Almost 350 miles north of Santa Barbara, anti-Trump protesters were attacking a flag-waving car parade in Marin City, KTVU reported.
A woman who participated in that Trump caravan posted video to social media of a Black Lives Matter protester hurling eggs at the windshield of Trump-flag flying truck.
Attacked in Marin City during a Trump Train@OANN @FoxNews @newsmax @MarinCountyNews @MarinCountyDSA @MarinSheriff @marin pic.twitter.com/z812fNYuXd
— ☘️Stacey AE☘️ (@Stacey_AE) November 2, 2020
In the video, the woman repeatedly threw eggs at the truck while the drive can be heard calling the police.
The video showed more protesters were headed toward the vehicle and the driver’s daughter becoming terrified before the video ended.
Multiple reports of a Trump 2020 rally today at the Marin City shopping center parking lot off Highway 101. Residents are shocked and confused why Trump supporters decided to go to Marin City, a predominantly Black community, so close to Election Day. https://t.co/IWlljMenjz
— Lorenzo Morotti (@Enzomorotti) November 1, 2020
There was much speculation about the “Trump Train” appearing in the largely-minority city as an effort toward voter suppression, KTVU reported.
Marin Community School Principal Katy Foster posted pictures of the Trump caravan to Twitter and said she thought it was there to “intimidate” black voters.
Foster told KTVU the caravan was a “steady stream of mostly trucks” flying Trump flags and pro-police Thin Blue Line flags.
She claimed drivers yelled “We’ll pray for you” and “Four More Years” from their vehicle windows.
“It was really horrible,” Foster told KTVU.
Caravan organizers said there was nothing nefarious about where they stopped and said they pulled into the city for a bathroom pit stop for the more than 100 vehicles in the convoy.
Holly Matkin
