A white supremacist who was in Charlottesville, Va., to speak at the deadly protest two weeks ago has turned himself in to authorities after warrants were issued for his arrest this week.
The University of Virginia police department said Chris Cantwell has turned himself Wednesday into Lynchburg Police and is being held in the Blue Ridge Regional Jail.
Four warrants were issued for Cantwell following the protest.
Cantwell said the charges were likely related to a photo of him “pepper-spraying a guy straight in his face as he’s coming toward me.” The Boston Globe reported the warrants were related to “illegal use of gases, and injury by caustic agent or explosive.”
Cantwell, who was featured in Vice News’ documentary on the deadly Charlottesville protest two weeks ago, is well-known in alt-right circles. He was in Charlottesville to speak at the “Unite the Right” rally.
One woman, Heather Heyer, was killed and 19 others injured after a car drove into a group of counter-protesters.
Cantwell later put out a video saying he feared for his safety and defended the rally.
He was also banned from dating site OkCupid “for life.” The site tweeted, “There is no room for hate in a place where you’re looking for love” and asked members to report others involved in hate groups.
“I don’t think I did anything wrong, and I’m looking forward to my day in court,” he told the New York Times last week.
