Asheville police investigating surveillance video of library assault

Lina Portman3 days ago

0 4 minutes read

ASHEVILLE — As police use surveillance camera footage to investigate and try to identify those involved in an alleged June 29 assault at the West Asheville library, city leaders are denouncing the violence in the community amid growing local tensions over the war between Israel and Hamas.

Asheville Police Department officers responded to reports of a fight in progress around 2:57 p.m. on June 29 at the Haywood Road Library, according to an APD news release. The fight broke out in one of the library’s public meeting rooms during a seminar titled “Strategic Lessons from Palestinian Resistance,” which was part of the fifth annual Another Carolina Anarchist Bookfair.

According to police, between 80 and 100 people were present.

Tensions flared over the livestreaming of the speech by one attendee, Monica Buckley, 48. She attended the event with two other alleged victims of the ensuing assault, David Moritz, 54, and Bob Campbell, 79. All three are Asheville-area residents.

Organizers of the anarchist book fair claim the three people attended the event to “provoke conflict” and “sell a false narrative” that the book fair is an anti-Semitic event, according to a July 3 press release. The alleged victims, two of whom are Jewish, told the Citizen Times they attended the event to learn more about the seminar and had no intention of opposing the group.

What does the video show?

In a video circulating on social media, one participant says: “I don't know if everyone agrees, but there is a live stream in this room right now.”

“They are Zionists,” someone said. “We are trying to figure out how to deal with them.”

Buckley told the Citizen Times on July 3 that someone asked her to stop recording earlier in the meeting, but she said, “No, thank you,” and began live streaming on Facebook.

More: After Months of Calls for a Ceasefire Between Israel and Hamas, Asheville Mayor Responds

After some back and forth between the crowd and the speaker as the group discussed what to do, Moritz said, “What are you afraid of? I thought you wanted your message to get out.”

At the same time, the speaker said: “End the Zionist occupation here.”

Shortly after, the group is seen live on air gathering in front of the three alleged victims sitting along a side wall. Two men begin clapping near Campbell's face and the crowd chants “Free Palestine.”

“From Hamas,” Campbell replies.

Police investigate alleged assault at West Asheville library

This livestreamed video shows an altercation at the West Asheville Library during a seminar hosted by Another Carolina Anarchist Bookfair on June 29.

At that point, a woman grabbed Buckley's phone, she said, and the video cut out. A loud scuffle can be heard over the recording, as well as Moritz saying, “Don't touch me,” and someone telling Campbell, “We don't care how old you are.”

Buckley said she ran and jumped on the woman who took her phone, but three or four people started hitting her while others held her down.

“They were hitting me on the wrists and hands; they were stomping on my ankles,” Buckley said, adding that at one point she felt like she was being strangled.

More: Hundreds march through downtown Asheville to demand ceasefire in Gaza: 'Hands off Rafah'

Campbell said he was trying to reach Buckley when someone grabbed him from behind, “threw” him “to the ground” and then dragged him to another part of the library.

Back on the video, someone says, “That's someone's phone, I'm just going to throw it against the wall,” before the footage swirls as the phone falls into the grass outside.

According to a Buncombe County news release, during the altercation, a librarian called 911. Police told Buckley they also received 911 calls from people watching the live stream, she said.

Buckley said his phone was later found in the yard behind the library and Campbell's was found in a trash can.

Buckley, Moritz and Campbell said they had extensive bruises and scrapes from the incident. Emergency responders treated their injuries at the library and no one was taken to the hospital, police said.

In a July 3 press release, the book fair organizer called the incident a “planned disruption by individuals with extremist and genocidal beliefs who have publicly called for the suppression of solidarity with Palestinians.”

Mayor Esther Manheimer, who is Jewish, released the following statement about the incident:

“Asheville community members deserve the right to enter community spaces with a sense of safety. We will not tolerate violence, whether it is against or within our community. Asheville is a city that has thrived and honored the diversity of all its residents. We will continue to do so and will not be intimidated by individuals who resort to violence.”

More: 'Not Tolerated': Mayor Responds After Asheville Restaurant Vandalized With Hate Symbols

One person, Taylor Danielle Zarkin, 35, of Alexander, was charged with two counts of resisting a public officer for allegedly obstructing police investigations after the initial incident, Rice said.

Zarkin's arrest report indicated she was an employee of the Asheville Public Library, which she told officers when they were questioned, according to Rice. The county denied Zarkin was ever a Buncombe County employee in a news release.

APD is now using surveillance footage from inside the library to identify nine “persons of interest” as of July 3, Rice said.

“We at APD remain steadfast in our commitment to reducing all acts of violence in our community, particularly those targeting vulnerable groups like our Jewish community,” Chief Mike Lamb said in a news release, adding that the police are working with the district attorney’s office.

The Citizen Times contacted ACAB organizers but did not receive a response before going to press.

Anyone with information regarding the incident or identification of the offenders can contact APD at 828-252-1110. Anonymous tips can be submitted using the TIP2APD smartphone app (search for “Asheville PD” in the App Store) or by texting TIP2APD to 847411.

More: Arrest warrant: Man charged with first-degree murder fled south Asheville after shooting into stolen car

Ryley Ober is a public safety reporter for the Asheville Citizen Times, part of the USA Today Network. Email her at [email protected] and follow her on Twitter @ryleyober

What does the video show?

Lina Portman

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