California man who was seen on video pulling AR-15 rifle on George Floyd protesters and yelling 'Back the f*** up' is charged with assault with a deadly weapon

A California man was was caught on video earlier this week pulling an AR-15 and yelling profanities at a large group of George Floyd protesters has been charged with assault with a deadly weapon.  

Jacob Bracken, 38, of Rancho Cucamonga, was arrested on two felony counts of assault of a firearm stemming from his actions during a June 1 clash between Black Lives Matter demonstrators and Donald Trump supporters carrying American flags in Upland. 

The incident took place at the intersection of Foothill Boulevard and Euclid Avenue, where hundreds of people gathered to protest the killing of unarmed black man George Floyd by a Minneapolis police officer late last month.

California man pulls assault rifle on George Floyd protesters

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Jacob Bracken, 38, has been charged with two felony counts of assault of a firearm after this video showed him pointing an AR-15 at peaceful protesters in Upland, California 

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In the video, Bracken is heard yelling at the crowd, 'Back the f*** up' while brandishing the assault rifle 

Cellphone video taken by bystanders appears to show a man in a red T-shirt and a baseball hat emerging from a pickup truck and pointing an AR-15 at a large group of protesters as they move across the street towards a smaller group of pro-Trump supporters.

'Alright, everybody, back the f*** up!' the armed man, later identified as Bracken, yells. 

A man who described himself as an acquaintance of Bracken's told a KNBC correspondent that their small group was vastly outnumbered by Black Lives Matter 'out-of-towners' and were in fear for their lives 

Bracken was arrested on June 1 after protesters reported the incident to police at the scene 

Although Bracken did not fire the gun and no one was injured, Upland Police Chief Darren Goodman said his conduct led to the weapons charges because he pointed a loaded AR-15 at people 'with the intent to intimidate.'

The San Bernardino County District Attorney’s Office said it has reviewed the evidence in the case, including videos and still photos taken by peaceful protesters, and decided to file charges against Bracken. 

If convicted of the charges, Bracken could face up to eight years in state prison.

'What this person did was unacceptable,' Goodman said in an interview with KNBC. 'I would hope that people could accept difference of opinion and different views without taking a violent position, just like I hope the protesters can learn to continue to be peaceful in their protests and not destroy property.' 

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Hundreds of people gathered in Upland on Monday afternoon to protest the killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis 

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Police ended up using pepper and sting balls after protesters refused to disperse after the 6pm curfew 

According to a statement from the police addressing the protest, before the 6pm curfew on Monday, protesters began the block the street and were ordered to disperse.

Many people refused to comply with the order to disperse. Several police officers were pushed and pelted with rocks and water bottles.

Officers deployed pepper balls and sting balls to push the crowd back, which ultimately caused the people to leave.

'Upland protest had a few tense moments, but overall ends peacefully!' the police department summed up in a Facebook post.