SEATTLE — The man accused of beating a journalist at an Immigration and Customs Enforcement protest is now behind bars.
Jeremy Lawson is booked in the King County jail for investigation of felony assault.
Journalist Cam Higby of Today is America, a conservative news site, told KOMO News he's still recovering from a concussion that sent him to the ER in June, though he now has some relief knowing his suspected attacker is in jail. He believes his injuries would have been a lot worse had he not been wearing a helmet the night he covered an anti-ICE rally and a demonstration that followed outside the federal building in downtown Seattle.
A recording shared with KOMO News shows Higby on the ground as someone hit him twice on the head, then he defended himself with pepper spray.
After a series of similar protests in mid-June, Mayor Bruce Harrell, in a statement, said, in part, "the actions of a few bad actors will not be allowed to define our city."
This came after what was otherwise a peaceful No Kings march in response to actions by ICE to boost deportations. Higby believes what he does for work is part of what made him a target.
"It’s a group of these Antifa guys," Higby explained. "I film them committing crimes, and they don’t like that."
Just more than a month after the incident, Seattle police confirmed they arrested suspect Jeremy Lawson and booked him into the King County Jail. The 33-year-old faces a felony assault charge for the incident that SPD's Community Response Group stated may have been "politically motivated."
"Do you believe this was a politically-motivated attack?" KOMO News' Jackie Kent asked.
"Yeah, 1,000%," Higby responded. "He actually has anarchist tattoos all over his hands."
The King County Prosecuting Attorney's Office has been working with police investigators and anticipates a charging decision this week.
"I hope it sends a message that people will eventually get caught, and I won’t be deterred from going into the field," Higby stated.
Records from Lawson's criminal history show he was arrested in 2019 and pleaded guilty in Everett to criminal trespass and resisting arrest.
Lawson is expected to have his first court appearance in this latest case on Thursday afternoon.