Man Charged In Charlottesville Beating Arrested In Georgia

Associated Press, Kaitlyn Lewis | WABE

August 29th, 2017

This image provided but the Monroe County Ga., Sheriff’s Office shows Alex Michael Ramos who turned himself in Monroe County Ga. Ramos has been charged in connection with the beating of a black man during violent clashes in Charlottesville the day of a white nationalist rally Aug. 12, 2017. (Monroe County Sheriff’s office via AP)

Monroe County Sheriff's office via AP

A man wanted in connection with a beating that took place two weeks ago in Charlottesville, Va., has turned himself in to authorities.

Alex Ramos, 33, surrendered to authorities in Forsyth, Ga., Monday evening. He has been charged with malicious wounding and has made his first appearance in court since his arrest, authorities said.

A video shared on Twitter captured the fight that broke out between protesters in Charlottesville on Aug. 12. In the video, protesters surrounded 20-year-old DeAndre Harris and stuck him with poles.

Ramos shared his side of the story with CBS46 Monday before he turned himself in.

“I was there because, pretty much, I’m a conservative. … There were some non-racist members who were going to a free speech rally,” he said.

He said that he hit Harris once and that others beat him with sticks and shields. He called the incident “a defensive attack.”

Ramos is now in Monroe County Jail, Cobb County Police Department said in a Twitter post.

Harris shared his story on a GoFundMe page and has received over $100,000 in donations.

“I was diagnsoed with a concussion, an ulnar fracture, and had to receive eight staples in my head,” he said in a statement on the page. “I also have a laceration across my right eyebrow, abrasions on my knees & elbows, and a chipped tooth. I’m so blessed to be alive to tell my story and to show the world that racism is very much still alive.”

Harris’ attorney, S. Lee Merritt, has said Harris, a 20-year-old special education instructional assistant, attended the rally with friends to show his opposition to the white nationalist groups.

A member of Harris’ group began arguing with a white supremacist over a Confederate flag, Merritt said in a statement. Harris intervened just as the white supremacist attempted to spear his friend with the flag’s pole, the statement said.

Harris tried to retreat but was pushed to the ground by a man holding a shield with the symbol of a white supremacist group, and the group of men swarmed him, beating him with blunt objects, according to the statement.

Another man wanted in connection with the attack on Harris — 18-year-old Patrick Borden — was arrested Aug. 25 and charged with malicious wounding, Charlottesville Police Department said in a press release.

Ramos and Borden were identified through the efforts of journalist and activist Shaun King, who has been posting photos and video of the assault on social media and offered a reward, Harris’ attorney said.

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