A Bloomington man was arrested and charged with intimidation, a level five felony, and disorderly conduct, a class B misdemeanor, during Saturday’s “No Kings” protest, Bloomington Police Department Captain Ryan Pedigo said in an email.
Protesters reported Hyun Joon Kim, 31, parked his car in a crosswalk and exited holding a large stick, which he began striking his own car’s windows with. He then waved the stick toward protesters, yelling at and threatening them.
He returned to his car and attempted to grab what protesters believed to be a backpack he had thrown on the ground, which police later determined to be a tactical armor carrier containing ballistic rifle plates, similar to a bullet proof vest. A protester then tackled Kim fearing for his and others’ safety, he later told police, believing Kim was possibly retrieving a weapon.
Another protester told police he tried to hug Kim to deescalate the situation, but Kim placed a key fob in the protester’s pocket and said things that made him fear the fob was connected to an explosive device.
Officers responded to a scene of several protesters holding Kim to the ground. He was handcuffed and secured in a patrol car while police interviewed witnesses.
Police questioned Kim and took him to Monroe County Jail, where he is still being held.
