Hate crime charge filed against man who allegedly threw smoke canister into crowd

Posted on June 5, 2020
Andrew M. Menssen, 31, turned himself in to the McLean County Detention Facility June 3. (Photo courtesy HOI ABC)

 

By HOI ABC

BLOOMINGTON – A second person has been charged with a hate crime in Bloomington involving protesters throughout the city.

Andrew M. Menssen, 31, turned himself in to the McLean County Detention Facility June 3 after he allegedly through a smoke canister into into a group of protesters at the McLean County Law and Justice Center on Wednesday.

According to our news partner HOI ABC, Bloomington Police said the device and the smoke it emitted were harmless to those in attendance.

The gathering of protesters was one of many that have been held in the Bloomington-Normal area following the death of George Floyd, a black man who was killed while in police custody.

According to documents filed in McLean County court, Menssen faces one count of a hate crime, a Class 4 felony, two counts of reckless conduct, two counts of aggravated assault, three counts of disorderly conduct, and one count of endangering the life or health of a child.

Bond has been set at $2,500.

Earlier this week, Marshall Blanchard was charged with four counts of committing a hate crime and several other charges after he allegedly drove his motorcycle through a crowd of protesters after a peaceful rally in downtown Bloomington on May 31.

WJBC News can be reached at [email protected]

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