SALT LAKE CITY-A man accused of brandishing a bow and arrow and threatening a crowd of protesters Saturday afternoon has been charged.
57-year-old Brandon Earl McCormick was charged Thursday in 3rd District Court in Salt Lake City with aggravated assault and two counts of possession of a dangerous weapon by a restricted person, all felonies, per court documents.
McCormick also faces a misdemeanor charge of threatening or using a dangerous weapon in a fight.
Earlier Thursday, Salt Lake City police said McCormick had been screened by the Salt Lake County District Attorney’s office for charges of aggravated assault and possession of a weapon by a restricted person.
They anticipated he would be arrested and charged in the case.
A warrant has been issued for McCormick’s arrest, but Salt Lake County jail records indicate he has not yet been booked.
Videos of the incident posted on social media show McCormick getting out of his car and yelling at protesters.
He then brandished the bow and arrow, threatening demonstrators, per witnesses. The video confirms that McCormick was then immediately tackled.
McCormick was in his car near 415 S. 200 East on Saturday afternoon during protests, per charging documents.
Because of traffic, McCormick’s vehicle stopped as there were protesters in the road.
He then shouted an expletive, followed by “all lives matter.” Next, he went back into his car to retrieve a large knife and began walking toward people in a crowd.
He was also seen brandishing the knife at the people around him per charges.
McCormick then went into his car to retrieve the bow and arrow from the back seat.
Video footage shows him loading an arrow into the bow and drawing it back, per charges.
He was also seen pointing the loaded bow at people in the crowd as if to shoot them.
Following Saturday’s protest, a total of 46 protesters were arrested on suspicion of failing to disperse.
They violated the city’s curfew order, or had assaulted police officers.
Saturday, there were 21 officers treated for medical reasons, some for heat exhaustion but also for assault injuries.
McCormick had previously been charged with assault, a class B misdemeanor, in Taylorsville Justice Court May 7.
Per his Facebook page, McCormick is originally from Barstow, Calif.
San Bernardino County public court records show McCormick had a lengthy criminal history there with felony convictions.
Utah charging documents indicate McCormick had previously been convicted of battery on a peace officer, making him restricted from possessing a dangerous weapon.
McCormick’s Facebook page also features a litany of extreme far-right posts with some containing violent ideation about left-wing political figures.








