Pensacola police arrested a 56-year-old man and issued a warrant for a second individual after a man attempting to paint over the Charlie Kirk mural at Graffiti Bridge was pepper sprayed Sept. 15.
Troy Donovan Grow was booked into Escambia County Jail for felony battery overnight Sept. 16 for allegedly pepper spraying the victim. The department issued an arrest warrant for 49-year-old Larry Wayne Hopkins, who will also be charged with felony battery, according to the PPD.
“The incident began when the victim approached the mural of Kirk, which was painted on the overpass during the vigil,” a PPD release said. “The victim was recording himself as he produced a can of spray paint and began to spray over the painting of Kirk.”
A video of the incident shows Grow approach the victim in “an aggressive manner” and grab a can of pepper spray. After the victim yelled, “You can’t touch me,” the video was cut off, at which point the PPD says he was pepper sprayed by Grow.
“Hopkins then threw the victim to the ground and struck him in the head with his elbow,” the release said. “The victim was transported to a local hospital for treatment.”
Grow remains in Escambia County Jail without bond pending first appearance.
(This story was updated to add a video.)
This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: Charlie Kirk Pensacola pepper spray incident ends in arrest
