CRIME

Police: Military reservists called 'Nazis,' assaulted after We The People rally

Jim Walsh
The Courier-Post
Philadelphia police are seeking these men in connection with an assault on military reservists in the aftermath of a political rally.

PHILADELPHIA - Several military reservists were assaulted here Saturday by men and women who apparently believed they were right-wing extremists, police said.

Separately, a 23-year-old man was charged with hitting a police officer at a political rally held near the scene of the attack on the reservists.

The reservists were Maced, punched and kicked around 3:20 p.m. on the 100 block of South Front Street, according to Philadelphia police.

The assailants called the victims "Nazis" and "white supremacists," police said.

"During the assault, one of the complainants had his cellphone stolen," according to a police account.

The incident occurred shortly after a "We The People" rally had drawn members of right-wing groups and counter-protesters to nearby Independence National Park in Center City.

One counter-protester, Brian Glantz of Glenside, allegedly struck an officer on the side of his face as police positioned themselves between about 50 rally participants from some 500 counter-protesters, said the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Philadelphia.

Glantz allegedly resisted efforts to arrest him, “kicking his legs and wrestling with the officers and park rangers," the federal prosecutor's office said Monday.

Glantz faces state and federal charges of assaulting an officer in the performance of official duties.

Police said some of the alleged assailants in the later incident  were seen on video taken at the protest, police said.

Anyone with information about the incident or the suspects is asked to call Philadelphia police detectives Guercio or Palumbo at 215-686-3047.

Jim Walsh: @jimwalsh_cp; 856-486-2646; jwalsh@gannettnj.com

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