A security forces airman assigned to Davis-Monthan Air Force Base faces a misdemeanor charge of assault with injury after allegedly punching a protester at a rally for presidential candidate Donald Trump Saturday.
A spokesman for the 355th Fighter Wing at Davis-Monthan confirmed that Staff Sgt. Tony Pettway, 32, is the person shown in the video punching a protester.
"We are reviewing the situation, fully cooperating with local authorities, and will take appropriate action," Capt. Casey Osborne said in an email to Air Force Times. "All DoD members are authorized to participate in the political process in their personal capacity without implying any endorsement from the DoD. We believe wholeheartedly in our fellow Americans' rights to express their views on political issues, and we strongly condemn any attempt to silence those views through force or violence."
The Air Force Personnel Center said Pettway is a security forces airman who joined the Air Force in August 2002. He is assigned to the 355th Security Force Squadron at Davis-Monthan, and has received three Air Force Commendation Medals, AFPC said.
Video of the conflict taken by the Tucson-based TV station KOLD News 13 shows a protester wearing a shirt patterned after the American flag being escorted out of the Tucson Convention Center, along with another protester wearing something similar to a Ku Klux Klan hood.
As the protester walks up the steps holding an anti-Trump sign, a person identified as Pettway rips it out of his hands and punches him. The video shows the person identified as Pettway punching the protester again, knocking him to the ground, before kicking him several times. Police officers then handcuff and arrest Pettway and take him out of the arena.
In another video of the incident, shortly before the assault, Trump can be heard commenting about the protester wearing the hood, "Get him out of here. There's a disgusting guy, who puts a Ku Klux Klan hat on. He thinks he's cute. He's a disgusting guy. That is a disgusting guy, really disgusting."
The Arizona Daily Star posted a video interview with the protester who was punched, identified as Bryan Sanders, who said he attended to protest Trump's "fascism, his racism, his lies and his women-hating." Sanders said his sign said "Trump is bad for America" and said he got "sucker-punched."
In an email, Air Combat Command spokeswoman Maj. Genieve David said the command is "aware of an incident involving an airman and another attendee at a presidential candidate rally."
"While the DoD authorizes service members the option to participate in the political process in their personal capacity without implying any endorsement from the DoD, we still expect the utmost professionalism of our men and women in and out of uniform," David said.
Stephen Losey is the air warfare reporter for Defense News. He previously covered leadership and personnel issues at Air Force Times, and the Pentagon, special operations and air warfare at Military.com. He has traveled to the Middle East to cover U.S. Air Force operations.
