Grand jury indicts Medford counter-protesters – Medford News, Weather, Sports, Breaking News

Mail Tribune (Medford, OR — Wayback)

2020-06-18

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Grand jury indicts Medford counter-protesters By Nick Morgan of the Mail Tribune Jun 18, 2020 04:39 PM A A A Jackson County grand jury has indicted two people who allegedly pointed guns at demonstrators who were marching in downtown Medford to protest racism following the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis. A grand jury Thursday indicted David Robert Westmoreland, 51, and Marcella Rene Welch, 55, both Medford residents, on felony weapons and misdemeanor menacing charges on accusations they brandished firearms against Black Lives Matter demonstrators during marches that occurred almost a week apart, according to Deputy District Attorney Patrick Green, who is prosecuting the case. The grand jury heard from three witnesses in Westmoreland’s case — two of them Medford police officers — before indicting him on two felony counts of unlawful use of a weapon and two misdemeanor counts of menacing. Drawing from testimony of one Medford police officer and one witness, the grand jury indicted Welch Thursday on one felony count of unlawful use of a weapon and one misdemeanor count of menacing. On the evening of June 1, Westmoreland allegedly brandished a gun at the intersection of Ninth Street and Central Avenue after Westmoreland chanted “all lives matter.” An altercation rapidly ensued, and two marchers formed a human shield from the back of a pickup bed when Westmoreland pulled out his weapon, cocked the gun and pointed it at people in the crowd. On June 6, Welch allegedly pointed a gun from her car during a confrontation that a demonstrator recorded on video. Medford police later drew from the video to cite Welch on a felony weapons charge. Police also seized Welch’s firearm, according to an earlier news report. Both suspects are scheduled to be arraigned Aug. 12, according to Green. Court records show no prior criminal history for either suspect. Reach reporter Nick Morgan at 541-776-4471 or [email protected] . Follow him on Twitter @MTCrimeBeat . David Westmoreland, 51, is charged with unlawful use of a weapon and menacing surrounding this downtown Medford incident on June 1. Kaylee Tornay / Mail Tribune A grand jury charged Marciella Welch with unlawful use of a weapon and menacing surrounding this June 6 incident in downtown Medford in which Welch allegedly brandished a firearm. Submitted photo.