Man Arraigned For Allegedly Assaulting ICE Protester On Nantucket
David Creed •
A 62-year-old Duxbury resident was arraigned in Nantucket District Court Friday morning for allegedly assaulting a female ICE protester in July.
Lee Kennedy is facing charges of assault & battery on a person over the age of 60/disabled and disorderly conduct. He had not-guilty pleas entered on his behalf and was ordered to stay away and have no contact with the alleged victim. He was ordered to return to court for a pretrial hearing on November 17th, where his attorney - Jim Merberg - told Judge John Julian there could be a "potential resolution."
According to the police report, on July 25th the alleged victim was participating in a vigil walk with a group of people on South Beach Street. While walking on the sidewalk, Kennedy passed the alleged victim “and did assault and batter her by pushing her with such force she fell to the ground,” according to NPD officer Janine Mauldin in her report.
Mauldin said the alleged victim needed assistance getting back up to her feet and was medically treated the next day due to the incident.
“Witnesses on scene positively identified Kennedy as the individual that pushed (the alleged victim),” the report states.
Mauldin said while speaking with Kennedy, he did admit to pushing someone to the ground as he walked through the crowd and showed Mauldin what he did.
“During that time of night in that area, both pedestrian, cyclist, and motor vehicle traffic was heavy,” Mauldin says. “When the incident occurred, people passing by stopped and stared at Kennedy's actions as the public heard him yelling and walking into the street. Pedestrians from the other side of the roadway stopped and watched the commotion to the point where some were yelling at Kennedy while others took out their cellular phones to record the incident.”
Kennedy was initially scheduled to be arraigned on these charges in early September, however it was revealed during the September 8th court session that Kennedy had been seeking to have the charges dismissed prior to arraignment and sought approval for a diversion program, but that request was denied by the Cape & Island’s District Attorney’s Office.