Matthew Banta PC: Fox 11 Online
WAUPACA, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — A man who got into a fight with a police officer during an August 2020 protest following the death of George Floyd was convicted of battery to a law enforcement officer.
Matthew Banta, 25, was placed on probation for three years by Judge Raymond Huber at a hearing on December 15. Four other counts were dismissed, court records show.
Banta was also convicted in Brown County for his actions during another protest in Green Bay later that same month. In that case, he was convicted of misdemeanor counts of obstructing and bail jumping, and was sentenced to 90 days in jail.
According to the criminal complaint, the Waupaca protest started about 2 p.m. on Aug. 1, 2020. It included about 30 people and ‘numerous vehicles.’ Police asked multiple people to stay out of the street while walking.
Officers continued speaking with the protesters asking them to get out of the roadway and one said “We can keep you guys out here all day or you could just let us march”.
As the victim officer approached and asked them to get out of the street, Banta then got in front of them and said “You can do what you want, but we are going to continue to march”. Banta was advised that if he did not get out of the roadway, he would be under arrest and he continued to refuse to move. The victim officer reached for his left arm to attempt to take him into custody and he immediately stepped backwards. He began going down the ditch shouting “Get the (expletive) off of me”.
The victim officer reached for his backpack and as he began turning around he began raising his rifle. He fell onto his back at that point and began kicking at the officer, and struck him twice in the legs. He tried standing back up and as he was getting up he again began raising his rifle toward the officer. The victim officer reports he was then fearing for his life and others around; he grabbed him by the shoulders and threw him onto the ground and held him to the ground. Banta was laying on his hands and the rifle was now underneath him. Banta was then moving his hands around and as though he was trying to manipulate the gun. He told him to get his hands off the gun. He kept shouting “Get off of me” “Help Me”.
The crowd began screaming saying to get off of him and other officers moved in to keep the crowd back. As the victim officer began reaching for Banta’s hand, he bit the right forearm of the officer, causing pain.
Banta continued kicking at us and shouting “get off of me”. Police were able to secure him in handcuffs and secure the rifle. The rifle was found to be loaded, had a bullet in the chamber, and Banta had a total of 117 rounds of ammunition on his person. Banta also had an 8” straight blade knife in a sheath on his belt,” the complaint states.
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