Moment driver who ‘crashed his car at pro-Trump protest’ is pinned down in choke hold by MAGA crowd in California
- Jacob Garza, 20, was pinned down by Donald Trump supporters in Santa Maria, California after an alleged traffic incident
- Garza allegedly threw a bottle at the Trump supporters before causing a wreck
- Trump supporters are seen holding him down and choking him in video footage
- Garza was cited by police for reckless driving, but appears to accuse the Trump supporters of a hate crime on a GoFundMe fundraiser
Video footage shows the moment a driver is pinned down in a choke hold by Trump supporters after they say he hurled a bottle and crashed his car at a MAGA protest in Santa Maria, California.
In the four-and-a-half minute video posted by Instagram user ab3anater, the man is seen being held down by a crowd, one of whom puts the man in a chokehold, as others in the crowd shout obscenities.
Someone pleas for the man to be allowed to breath as police arrive on the scene, which is where the video ends.
The Santa Maria Times identifies the man being choked as 20-year-old Jacob Garza.
The incident began around 2pm on Sunday afternoon when Garza reportedly drove his black BMW by a parade of Trump supporters in their trucks.
Scroll down for video
A man identified as Jacob Garza, 20, was put into a chokehold by Donald Trump supporters after allegedly causing an accident at a pro-Trump rally in Santa Maria, California on Sunday afternoon
After Garza was placed in a chokehold by a Trump supporter, local police intervened
He then allegedly drove through a stop sign, straight through the truck drivers and threw a bottle at the crowd before crashing into another vehicle.
One of the passengers in the vehicle reportedly suffered a fractured arm and was taken along with another passenger for treatment at Marian Regional Medical Center, the Santa Maria Times reports.
The video reportedly picks up in the aftermath of the crash, with a man placing Garza in a chokehold as he struggles to break free.
One person nearby is heard yelling ‘Welcome to MAGA country, motherf–ker’ during the incident.
Garza was ultimately cited for reckless driving, but pinned the incident on the crowd online
‘It’s hard to tell what happened first,’ Santa Maria Police Sgt. Nate Totorica told the Santa Maria Times. ‘Some witnesses suggest he tried to run and some people grabbed a hold of him.’
‘It’s hard to tell what’s self-defense.’
The Santa Barbara County District Attorney’s Office is investigating the incident, but Garza has already been cited for reckless driving causing injury.
On Sunday night, a GoFundMe – seemingly created by Garza – began seeking $10,000 worth of donations for legal and medical costs.
In the description for the fundraiser, Garza wrote that he ‘was a victim of a hate crime by Trump Supporters.’
He continued: ‘I was targeted and attacked in the midst of a Trump rally for simply being gay. I was followed and harassed which ultimately led to a multi-car accident while trying to escape.I was dragged, degraded, and assaulted until police arrived on scene.’
As of late Monday night, Garza had raised $1,655 towards his intended goal.