Springfield, Illinois – After an article we published yesterday (Local activist head-butted by a man holding a confederate flag in Downtown Springfield, Illinois) criminal charges has been filed and a warrant has been issued against a Springfield man.
Today, Sangamon County State’s Attorney Dan Wright has filed criminal charges and obtained a warrant for 55 year old, Daniel L. Richards.
The charges are a result of an incident that occurred yesterday outside of the Illinois Commerce Commission, which is located at 527 E. Capitol.
Richards was caught on video head-butting John Keating, who is a local activist and candidate for State Representative in the 96th District. (THE VIDEO OF THE HEAD BUTT ASSAULT IS AT THE END OF THIS ARTICLE)
Keating who publicly announced on Facebook that he would be downtown to protest the ICC’s decision to not reinstate the utility shutoff moratorium was confronted by Richards. During the confrontation, Richards, who is waving a confederate flag and shouting, launches forward and head-butts Keating.
According to Keating, the assault was the result of an incident that occurred on Sunday because of a Facebook post. In the Facebook post, Keating posted a Video (CLICK HERE TO VIEW) of a Flag Stand that sells Donald Trump and confederate flags. That flag stand is owned by Richards – the man who was seen headbutting Keating. Keating said, “I don’t care if somebody sells Trump flags, but Confederate flags have no place in the home of Abraham Lincoln.”
Keating, who we reached out to immediately after the assault, told us that he had a minor lip bust. When we asked if he intended on pressing charges, he said, “I do intend on pressing charges because we need to let bigots know that threats and violence aren’t going to deter us from calling out their actions.”
According to Richards’ arrest warrant, he has been official charged with 2 counts of Aggravated Battery, a class 3 felony, and 2 counts of Battery, a class A misdemeanor.
Once he is booked into the Sangamon County Jail, he will need to post 10 percent ($2,500) of his $25,000 bond in order to be released.
IF YOU CANT VIEW THE VIDEO (CLICK HERE)