Anthony Brennan III, of Kensington, Maryland, who was charged on Friday with three counts of second-degree assault after a widely circulated video allegedly showing him assaulting three young walkers posting flyers protesting the death of George Floyd on the Capital Crescent Trail in Montgomery County on June 1, has issued an apology.
Brennan, 60, through his lawyers, said: “I am sick with remorse for the pain and fear I caused the victims on the trail, and online. I am cooperating fully with authorities. I am committed to making amends by addressing, through counseling, the underlying issues that led to my abhorrent behavior.
I am dedicated to working with the Montgomery County State Attorney’s Office to provide peace to our community and justice to the victims in the video, as well as to all victims of racism and police brutality.”
The Maryland-National Capital Park Police said they received hundreds of tips about Brennan’s identity and corroborated the information with their own sources.
They contacted Brennan through his lawyer and arranged for him to turn himself in Friday.
With consent, Brennan allowed his home to be searched and investigators seized a bicycle and bicycling clothes as evidence.
A consensual search of Brennan’s home and other locations turned up his bicycle, helmet, and other items seen in the video.
Brennan was then arrested and later released on bond.
“Anthony Brennan recognizes that his outrageous behavior toward the young adult victims on the Crescent Trail was unacceptable and wrong.
The outrage felt in our community and across our country is completely justified. Unfortunately, several innocent people were also victimized by having been erroneously identified online, and their reputations were tarnished.
Mr. Brennan understands that his apology will not be enough to right his wrongs,” said Brennan’s lawyers Andrew Jezic and David Moyse, in a statement.
Video shows Brennan, a white man wearing an orange helmet, arguing about the flyers and forcibly grabbing one of the papers from one of the walkers before pushing his bicycle toward the man taking the video, causing him to fall to the ground.
See video of the assault from WTOP’s news partner, NBC Washington:
The Maryland-National Capital Park Police said they received hundreds of tips about Brennan’s identity and corroborated the information with their own sources.
The park police thanked the Montgomery County police and the Montgomery County State’s Attorney’s Office, and those residents who offered information, for their help.
Editor’s note: Clarifies Brennan’s home was searched consensually, with prosecutors and defense attorneys present.
WTOP’s Neal Augenstein and Dan Friedell contributed to this report.
