Police in arrested an armed protester – who is a convicted felon and had warrants out for his arrest – after he tried to fight someone during Saturday’s “No Kings” demonstration in Huntington Beach.
Information released by the Huntington Beach Police Department indicates that, around 3:30 p.m., officers patrolling near Main Street and Pacific Coast Highway – next to the Huntington Beach Pier – when they saw a man “actively shouting at a pedestrian and challenging him to a fight.”
The man, who police say was waving a Mexican flag, was identified as 25-year-old Eduardo Pineda. Upon contacting Pineda, officers discovered he had active warrants out for his arrest for vandalism and battery.
“During a search [related] to the arrest, officers located a loaded handgun concealed in his waistband,” HBPD said Sunday morning. “Further investigation revealed Pineda is a convicted felon and prohibited from possessing firearms.”
Pineda was thus booked for being a felon in possession of a loaded firearm and challenging another person to fight in public in addition to his outstanding warrants.
“HBPD remains committed to facilitating peaceful public demonstrations while taking action against any unlawful or threatening behavior,” the department said.
Huntington Beach is one of California’s most prominent Republican strongholds; the city has been referred to as “America’s Trumpiest” by the Wall Street Journal. Many “No Kings” protesters in Huntington Beach on Saturday were met by counter protesters supporting the Trump administration.
Saturday saw “No Kings” protests against President Donald Trump’s administration’s policies pop up across the entire nation, including dozens of demonstrations in Southern California.
Most of them remained peaceful aside from some dispersal issues in downtown Los Angeles; however, Saturday night saw two crashes during protests in Inglewood and Riverside.
Police are searching for a felony hit-and-run suspect connected to the latter incident.