Biker Charged In Capital Crescent Trail Assault: What We Know

BETHESDA, MD — Anthony Brennan III has been identified as the bicyclist who was caught on video Monday attacking three college students who were posting racial justice flyers on the Capital Crescent Trail.

The 60-year-old Kensington resident's face was plastered all over the web after one of the victims posted a video of the assault on social media. In the now-viral video, the man could be seen trying to forcibly grab flyers and a roll of tape from a woman before using his bicycle to charge at another victim who was filming.

Before Maryland-National Capital Park Police released his identity, internet sleuths thought the suspect was Peter Weinberg, a senior marketing director in Washington, D.C. Then they were convinced the bicyclist was former Montgomery County police officer John Damskey.

Park Police said they received hundreds of tips that pointed to Brennan as the suspected attacker.

When an arrest warrant was served, Brennan turned himself into detectives. He was charged with three counts of second-degree assault, court records reveal.

Here's what else Patch knows about Brennan:

His neighbors helped catch him

According to a statement of charges obtained by Patch, Park Police received tips from people who said they knew him personally for more than 15 years. Other tipsters included neighbors who knew Brennan to be an avid biker.

He was being watched by Park Police

Around 8:15 a.m. on Friday, an officer posted outside Brennan's Kensington home saw him get into a car with another man, according to charging documents. The officer was instructed to stop, identify, and photograph Brennan if a violation was observed.

The vehicle then ran a stop sign. The officer followed the pair to the Holy Redeemer Church on Connecticut Avenue, where he conducted a traffic stop. According to officials, Brennan agreed to exit the vehicle and get his picture taken by police.

When the officer asked if he knew what this was about, Brennan said no. He then stated he loved the police, but refused to speak about the incident at the Capital Crescent Trail when pressed further.

After photographing Brennan, police said the pair was free to go.

Brennan and his attorney talked with police later that day and allowed authorities to search his home for evidence.

"Brennan led officers to several items of evidentiary value, to include the bicycle used, sunglasses, bike helmet, cycling shoes, blue bandana, water bottle (and) shorts that were seen on the suspect in the video," charging documents reveal. "Brennan also led officers to a black bookbag in his basement office that contained the fliers and tape that were taken from the victims."

He has issued an apology

Brennan has issued an apology through a statement from his attorneys, Andrew Jezic and David Moyse.

"I am sick with remorse for the pain and fear I caused the victims on the trail, and online," Brennan said, adding he was now cooperating with authorities. "I am committed to making amends by addressing, through counseling, the underlying issues that led to my abhorrent behavior."

Brennan's attorneys said he knows his "outrageous behavior ... was unacceptable and wrong," and that the "outrage felt in our community and across our country is completely justified."

He did not work at MWAA

Before Brennan was publicly named a suspect, Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority Police Chief David Huchler tweeted that the suspect "resembles a former MWAA employee."

The agency eventually told Patch that Brennan was never an employee and said it did not "plan on issuing any other statements on the matter."

As of Sunday afternoon, Huchler has not backtracked on his statement or issued a clarification about the suspect's occupation.

He has been fired from his job

MadeToOrder, a California-based company that specializes in the sales and creative sourcing of branded products, said that Brennan has been fired from his job.

The indefensible conduct displayed by this individual counters our company's culture and commitments. We stand in solidarity with our Black community.
Black Lives Matter.
— MadeToOrder, Inc. (@MadeToOrderInc) June 6, 2020