Video shows Richmond sheriff’s deputy pepper spraying fan at Turnstile concert on Brown’s Island
A video taken at a hardcore band’s recent concert in Richmond shows a man in a city sheriff’s office uniform deploying pepper spray directly into the face of a young fan attempting to climb onto the stage.
Turnstile — the high-energy band from Baltimore that drew a crowd of thousands to Brown’s Island for Wednesday’s event — appeared to be welcoming fans to come onstage during a particularly raucous song as the concert wrapped up.
In past stops on the band’s tour, Turnstile frontman Brendan Yates has invited fans onstage during “Birds,” the song that was playing during the pepper spray incident in Richmond. Just before the pepper spray was used, band members were helping other concert-goers climb onto the stage.
Video of the pepper spray incident. (Aidan Dowdy)
It’s not clear why law enforcement personnel were positioned between the crowd and the stage where Turnstile was performing, or why one deputy felt the need to use force.
Richmond Sheriff Antionette Irving did not respond to multiple requests for comment from The Richmonder on Friday. The sheriff previously told WTVR she is reviewing what happened at the concert and “any allegations related to any incidents.”
Under local policies for large events at the venue, off-duty law enforcement personnel from either the Richmond Police Department or the sheriff’s office must be present to help with crowd control. But it’s usually unarmed event security staff maintaining the barricade around the stage, not law enforcement personnel equipped with weapons.
Though the nonprofit Venture Richmond leases Brown’s Island from the city, the Turnstile concert was produced by the Broadberry Entertainment Group as part of its Live Loud concert series. Broadberry representatives declined to comment.
The deputy who used the spray, who could not be identified, was standing directly in front of the stage, close enough that band members appeared to see it and stop performing.
A publicist for Turnstile didn’t respond to a request for comment.
Contact Reporter Graham Moomaw at gmoomaw@richmonder.org
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