Man Charged For Bear Spray Attack On Trump Protesters: Prosecutor

SANTA MONICA, CA — A 32-year-old felon was charged with spraying bear repellent on a crowd of political protesters at the Santa Monica Pier last weekend, the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office announced Tuesday.

David Nicholas Dempsey, of Sherman Oaks, faces one felony count of use of tear gas and one misdemeanor count of unlawful tear gas activity.

Dempsey was previously convicted between 2006 and 2017 of felonies including second-degree burglary, conspiracy to commit commercial burglary and fleeing a pursuing peace officer's motor vehicle while driving recklessly, the District Attorney's Office press release said.

Dempsey is accused of spraying bear repellent into a crowd of anti-Trump protesters when a fight escalated between supporters and protesters of the president on the Santa Monica Pier on Oct. 19. He pleaded not guilty to the charges Tuesday and is scheduled to return on Nov. 5 to set a date for a preliminary hearing.

If convicted as charged, the defendant faces a possible maximum sentence of eight years in county jail. The case remains under investigation by the Santa Monica Police Department.

Related: MAGA Hat Man Sprays Bear Repellent At Protesters In Santa Monica