The on-duty Virginia Wesleyan College police officer that body-slammed, chased and subsequently beat a 52-year-old man with a baton for supporting President Donald Trump outside of a Bernie Sanders rally at the college last weekend has been arrested, Your Content has exclusively learned.
The charge is against Victor Dorsey, the director of Virginia Wesleyan University security.
The charge against Dorsey was filed Wednesday night.
A Virginia Wesleyan spokeswoman told WAVY that the campaign event was on private property. She also said the video didn’t show the actions of the individual before their altercation with the security guard.
“Virginia Wesleyan University holds freedom of speech and open dialogue at the deepest core of its values. However, when the conversation turns to physical violence and becomes a threat to public safety, it will not be tolerated on our campus,” the spokeswoman said.
We broke the story … Markus Gohring, 52, had journeyed with three pals to Virginia Wesleyan College for the event on Feb. 29.
“Mark was waving his Trump flag near the event entrance when a campus police officer approached him & told him he had to leave,” a sophomore who attended the event told Your Content. “The group complied with the officer’s request and walked back to their car in the parking lot.”
“An officer followed Gohring closely & told him he was ‘moving too slow,’” the Virginia Wesleyan student continued.
As the 52-year-old was walking towards the car, Gohring reportedly asked why he was being escorted out. The campus patrolman called for additional units and what witnesses say the officer did next is even more shocking.
“The cop then grabbed his Trump flag & body-slammed him on the ground. The old dude got up and ran towards a Virginia Beach cop who was directing traffic,” the student continued.
The student says the campus cop caught up to Gohring before he could reach the intersection.
“Holding the baton in full-on combat mode, the cop swung a few times and hit the old guy probably three times before he fell down again,” the student continued. “Other campus cops quickly came and pulled the angry one off of the man.”
The event was initially described as an effort to utilize the presidential rally as a ‘learning experience’ the Virginia Wesleyan College.
“Even if you don’t agree with Bernie Sanders’ politics, being able to engage and talk with other individuals and talk with the campaign, seeing how a campaign works is very vital,” Brian-Patrick Kurisky, VWU’s director of civic engagement and service learning told WAVY.
According to two law enforcement sources, state and federal authorities are assisting local police.
“Officers from the Virginia Beach Police Department who were at the front of the property directing traffic were approached by Markus Gohring who appeared to have several visible injuries,” a law enforcement source told Your Content. “They radioed it in and it was assigned to a detective.”
Gohring is a known figure in the local Republican party, assisting disabled or immobile voters by ensuring they have transportation to and from rallies and on election day.
“He is a volunteer for the Republicans, registering people to vote and driving disabled people to the voting booth,” said a law enforcement source. “It takes a real group of cowards to attack someone like Markus.”
“The miscreant responsible for this senseless act of violence will soon face serious legal repercussions for his cowardly actions.”
But Gohring says this won’t stop him from continuing his campaigning for President Trump, his friends claim.
“This will not deter him from continuing to support Trump in the area and assisting anyone who asks,” said the friend. “No person should be treated like this at any event designed to unite Americans of all creeds. Hopefully they make an example of the security officers responsible.”
This is an ongoing investigative special. Stay with Your Content for the latest updates. Have a story or news tip? Contact our 24/7 newsroom at 833.336.8013 or e-mail our tip line: [email protected]