Richland County deputies charge man in violent assault after May protests
A man who Richland County Sheriff’s Department have been seeking for three months for an alleged assault during recent protests has been arrested.
Deputies charged 24-year-old Nicholas Alexander Fleming of Columbia with assault and battery of a high and aggravated nature, breach of peace aggravated in nature, rioting, unlawful carry of a weapon and a probation violation.
“People have been covering up for this guy for three months,” Sheriff Leon Lott said in a statement. “But if there’s anything this arrest proves it’s that we’re coming — no matter how long it takes.”
Fleming’s charges stem from an attack on a man in the Vista on May 30. Police believe Fleming was one of a group that assaulted the man during unrest that followed social justice protests.
As the protest escalated into property damage through the Vista, the victim came outside his place of work to see if it was safe for other employees to come to work, police said. While the victim was on the phone, a person punched him in the head. Fleming is accused of stomping on the victim as he was unconscious on the sidewalk, according to police.
Deputies arrested Fleming on Sept. 1 and announced the charges Friday afternoon.
Fleming is jailed at Alvin S. Glenn Detention Center on $85,000 in bond, records show.
In June, deputies also charged 21-year-old Trechaun Rodreguez Belton and a 16-year-old with the attack.
Deputies also announced the arrests of Jayda Gary, 22, and William Crocker, 22.
They were charged with third-degree burglary, larceny, conspiracy, rioting, breach of peace of a high and aggravated nature, and looting.
Police said that Gary and Crocker broke into and stole items from Carolina Western Pub at 920 Lady St. The incident also happened during the May 30 unrest.