Charges Dropped Against Truck Driver Who Drove Rig into Group of People Protesting George Floyd’s Death
A truck driver who drove his rig through a large crowd of demonstrators protesting the death of George Floyd on a Minnesota highway last summer will no longer face criminal charges.
lawandcrime.com
Bogdan Vechirko, 36, and prosecutors in Hennepin County reached a deal—called a continuance without prosecution agreement—under which the state will not move forward with the two charges brought against Vechirko in October 2020. He was charged with one felony count of making threats of violence and with one count of criminal vehicular operation, which is a gross misdemeanor.
Vechirko told authorities that he was “kind of in a hurry” coming back from delivering fuel in Minneapolis and did not intend to endanger anybody or to drive into protesters, the Star Tribune reported. His attorney Mark Solheim said at the time that his client “relied on his professional instinct and training to avoid a hard brake that could have jackknifed the truck and could have seriously injured or killed thousands of people, and instead slowed his vehicle while maneuvering through the parted crowd.”
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According to a report from local news outlet Bring Me The News, the terms of the continuance without prosecution agreement state that the charges against Vechirko will be dropped on June 18, 2022, provided that during that time he remains a “law abiding” citizen, refrains from committing any traffic violations stemming from careless or reckless driving, doesn’t make contact with any of the victims identified in police reports, and completes three counseling sessions focused on victims’ concerns. According to the Star Tribune, Vechirko has already completed two of the required counseling sessions. He also may be required to pay restitution.