The man accused of hitting and injuring a woman in a group of protesters with his truck early June 21 has been charged with a felony hit-and-run.
Brendan O'Neil is scheduled for an initial appearance in Dane County Circuit Court at 10:30 a.m. Thursday.
According to a criminal complaint, O'Neil's pickup that hit and injured a womanwhen it drove through a crowd outside a bar in downtown Madison near University and Gilman.
When asked by investigators if he knew he had struck someone, O'Neil said, "with all the banging on the truck, I had no idea," according to the complaint.
The hit-and-run triggered outrage in the community, sending protesters into the streets Sunday calling for police to take actionand bring justice to the victim.
Some in the community believe it was a hate crime against a black woman. In the state of Wisconsin, there is no stand-alone charge for hate crime, but it can be added on to another charge if warranted.
The video excerpt released by police begins immediately following the hit and run accident, according to police.
To read more go to WKOW: https://wkow.com/2020/07/29/hit-and-run-suspect-charged/
Photo: WKOW