Arrests Made Following Verbal Altercation
Three individuals were arrested on Wednesday in Virginia City, Nevada, following a verbal altercation that took place last week during the Hot August Nights classic car festival. The incident involved Ricky Johnson, a Black man from Houston, who claimed that a racial slur and a threatening comment were directed at him by one of the individuals involved.
The Incident: A Racially Charged Encounter
The altercation occurred while Johnson was collecting signatures for a ballot measure in Virginia City, a historic tourist town located just south of Reno. Johnson alleged that a man made a racist remark, including a reference to a “hanging tree,” which he took as a direct threat. Johnson began recording the exchange shortly after the comments were made, demanding that the man repeat his words on camera.
The video, which Johnson later posted to TikTok, captured a heated, profanity-laden argument between Johnson and the individuals involved. The footage shows a woman accusing Johnson of being on her property, to which Johnson repeatedly responds by asking her not to touch him. The alleged “hanging tree” comment was not repeated on the video, and no racial slurs were captured in the recording.
Swift Legal Action and Public Response
The video quickly went viral, drawing widespread condemnation from both local and state officials. The Storey County Sheriff’s Office conducted interviews with Johnson and others involved in the incident and subsequently turned over evidence to the district attorney.
On Wednesday, the sheriff’s office announced the arrests of two women and one man in connection with the altercation. The man seen in the video was charged with breach of peace, a gross misdemeanor that includes making threatening comments based on race. One of the women was charged with battery, and the other was charged with interfering with a peace officer, both misdemeanors.
Praise for Law Enforcement and Ongoing Investigations
Nevada Attorney General Aaron Ford, who is Black, praised the swift action taken by law enforcement. “The public outcry was heard loud and clear, and steps have been taken to hold these individuals accountable for their racist and unlawful actions,” Ford said in a statement.
