2 people turn themselves in on ethnic intimidation charges

Two people charged with ethnic intimidation following an incident at a West Asheville Library have turned themselves in.

ASHEVILLE, N.C. (828newsNOW) — Asheville police say two people charged with ethnic intimidation have turned themselves in.

The Asheville Police Department (APD) announced in an Aug. 8 press release that 34-year-old Michael Solomon Brocenos and 33-year-old Tyler Byrne Hackett Kelly, who were both charged with ethnic intimidation, turned themselves into police.

APD previously said Kelly was charged “specifically for his actions on June 29th at the West Asheville Library.” A fight reportedly broke out that day during a seminar titled “Strategic Lessons from the Palestinian Resistance.” Police said Brocenos’ charge was related to the library incident as well.

Brocenos was booked into the Buncombe County Detention Facility on Aug. 7 and released under a $2,000 unsecured bond issued by a magistrate. Kelly was booked into the Buncombe County Detention Facility on July 23 and released under a Written Promise to Appear issued by the magistrate.

According to Buncombe County officials, Another Carolina Anarchist Bookfair reserved a meeting room at the library for an unspecified workshop on June 29. County officials said the librarian, who was not in the meeting room, was alerted to a disturbance and called 911. Police said the crowd was dispersing when officers arrived. Three victims reported an altercation had taken place followed by an assault. The victims suffered minor injuries and were checked out by EMS, police said.

Police have not gone into specifics of the events that unfolded that day, but video circulating on social media showed part of the events leading up to the fight and part of the fight at the seminar. In the video, which appeared to be shot from the back of the room, people can be heard telling others that someone was live streaming the workshop. The video was then intermittently blocked as several attendees changed seats to obstruct the view of the person shooting the video. While several people at the workshop can be heard saying they did not want to be on video, another person can be heard asking, “What do you have to hide?”

Minutes later, a scuffle can be heard but most of the video goes to black.

North Carolina legislation defines the charge of ethnic intimidation as the following: “If a person shall, because of race, color, religion, nationality, or country of origin, assault another person, or damage or deface the property of another person, or threaten to do any such act, he shall be guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor.” The maximum penalty for a Class 1 misdemeanor is 120 days in jail and a fine in an amount determined by the court.

Detectives are continuing their investigation, and if anyone has information about this incident, they are encouraged to contact the Asheville Police Department at (828) 252-1110. If you want to share information anonymously, you can text TIP2APD to 847411 or use the TIP2APD smartphone app.