Officials confirmed late Sunday night that the 32-year-old man arrested on suspicion of misdemeanor assault at a Donald Trump rally in Tucson is an airman assigned to a nearby base.
Captain Casey Osborne, 55th Fighter Wing Chief of Public Affairs, said in a statement to KOLD that Tony Pettway is “an airman assigned to Davis-Monthan Air Force Base,” which is miles from downtown Tucson.
Pettway was seen in a video punching and kicking an anti-Trump protester as the protester was escorted out of the Tucson Convention Center. The Arizona Daily Star identified the man who was punched as Bryan Sanders.
Sanders told the Daily Star that “nobody got punched” at a recent rally for Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT).
Here is video of the incident:
Went to the Trump rally just to see how crazy it would be……..this is insane pic.twitter.com/QFwSwmNoI0
— Alex Satterly (@alex_satterly) March 19, 2016
Tucson Police Sgt. Kim Bay told Tucson News Now that Pettway was arrested on suspicion of assault with injury.
CNN said Pettway has been released.
Osborne said “the situation” is being reviewed.
“All DOD members are authorized to participate in the political process in their personal capacity without implying any endorsement from the DOD,” the statement continued. “We believe wholeheartedly in our fellow Americans’ rights to express their views on political issues, and we strongly condemn any attempt to silence those views through force or violence.”
If the Air Force brass are serious about not condoning political violence, this guy should be given a general discharge, at best. But anyone want to take bets?
There is no excuse for violence.
Support our troops.
Man needs to be dishonorably discharged. He has no business wearing the uniform.
So bloody stupid. To jeopardize a potential military career just to bang some heads at a Rump rally? He needs to be discharged as of yesterday.