The truck driver who sped through a crowd of George Floyd protesters has been released without charges
- The truck driver who drove through a crowd of George Floyd protesters in Minneapolis on Sunday has been identified as 35-year-old Bogdan Vechirko.
- Vechirko was arrested on Sunday and held on suspicion of assault at the Hennepin County Jail.
- He was released without charges 36 hours later, but the investigation into his actions continues.
- No protesters were hit by Vechirko's truck.
- Department of Public Safety Commissioner John Harrington said that while the incident at first appeared to be potentially deliberate, it may have been accidental.
The driver of a semi-truck that drove through a crowd of protesters demonstrating against the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis on Sunday has been identified as Bogdan Vechirko.
Vechirko, 35, was arrested on Sunday and held on suspicion of assault at the Hennepin County Jail.
He was released on Tuesday without being formally charged, but officials say the investigation into his actions continues.
In Minnesota, suspects can only be held without being charged for 36 hours before they have to be released, and that time limit was reached in Vechirko's case. But that doesn't mean that prosecutors can't file charges later, if they are able to build a case against him.
"Investigators are in the process of gathering additional information and answers to aid in the charging decision," the Hennepin County Attorney's Office said in a statement, according to WCCO.
Just before 6 p.m. on Sunday, Vechirko drove an empty tanker truck at a high rate of speed through protesters marching down I-35W, while honking his horn, according to local news station Fox 9.
The protesters were able to get out of his way and there were no reports of injuries.
When Vechirko's vehicle came to a stop, his car was surrounded by protesters, according to KTSP, another local news channel. One group escorted the driver to police.
Pictures of the driver being arrested show blood on his face and chest, though it's unclear how he was injured. He was taken to the hospital for non-life-threatening injuries before being booked into jail.
The interstate had been shut down because of the protesters at the time Vechirko was on it.
Department of Public Safety Commissioner John Harrington said the driver did not go through any barriers before reaching the protests.
However, Department of Corrections Commissioner Paul Schnell later said that it appeared the driver was able to get around "diversions."
Sources told Fox 9 that he drove around workers as they set up barricades. The outlet said its sources believe he may not have meant any harm to the protesters.
Harrington later said that while it seemed Vechirko's actions may have been deliberate at the beginning of the investigation, it may turn out to have been an accident.
Trucking company Ken Advantage said in a statement on Sunday that Vechirko is an independent contractor.
"Our first and foremost concern is for the safety and security of the public, our employees and our customers," the company said.
"We will be cooperating fully with the investigating authorities in the days ahead. It would be inappropriate to comment at this time until we have additional facts as the investigation is in its early stages. We will comment further once we have more information."
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