Investigators recommend charge for teen pepper-sprayed at Donald Trump rally

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Police seek man who pepper-sprayed teen at Trump rally

Police: 15-year-old protester was groped, threw punch

A 15-year-old girl who was pepper sprayed after she punched a man at a Donald Trump rally in Wisconsin should be charged with disorderly conduct, investigators said Thursday.

Video of the incident shows a crowd of people in a parking lot outside the rally in Janesville Tuesday. The girl can be seen holding an anti-Trump sign and arguing with a 59-year-old man.

The video shows the man turning away from the teen with his hands in the air and seconds later, the girl punches him in the face. Another man wearing a red Trump had then pepper-sprayed then and disappeared into the crowed.

The girl told police the first man groped her breast. But Chief David Moore told reporters during a news conference Thursday that additional video doesn't show any evidence the man groped her and that 12 out of 13 witnesses said they didn't see him do anything.

Moore said the man who was assaulted didn’t want to press charges, but investigators have recommended juvenile authorities charge her with disorderly conduct for “an act of violence.”

He said the time passed between the alleged groping and the punching and the man and the girl were several feet apart when she threw the punch.

"Clearly her punch was illegal," Moore said.

The chief said investigators won't pursue charges of filing a false police report against the girl. He said she genuinely believes she felt pressure on her breast. However, he said, quarters were tight and people were brushing up against one another throughout the crowd.

Janesville police Sgt. Aaron Dammen said they’ve located the man suspected of pepper-spraying the girl during the altercation and they talked to a man accused of groping the girl.

Dammen said the investigation into the confrontation continues and no charges have been filed. However, Moore also described the use of pepper spray as an act of violence and Police Lt. Keith Lawver said he could face misdemeanor battery charges.

Moore said 350 officers were on duty at the rally but none of them saw the altercation. The video shows about a half-dozen officers near the dispute, but it appears their view would have been blocked by rows of people.

Asked whether police should have kept pro- and anti-Trump supporters separated rather than allowing them to mingle, Moore said it would have been difficult to separate the two groups and "we allowed free speech throughout the area."

The altercation was the latest in a series of confrontations that have marred recent Trump events.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.