GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — A man charged with misdemeanor obstruction in connection with a protest in Green Bay pleaded not guilty Thursday.
Matthew Banta, 24, also faces two felony bail jumping counts for the Aug. 29 incident. No trial date was set. He returns to court March 19 for a status conference, court records show.
According to the criminal complaint, Banta was part of a group marching downtown in what had been declared an unlawful assembly. Banta was part of a group of four individuals with wooden bats and an “antifa” flag. He allegedly ignored commands from police to stop, but eventually was arrested.
Police described Banta as having a flamethrower, but he has disputed that, calling it a ‘hand torch’ without a propulsion system.
Banta also faces five charges, including recklessly endangering safety, in Waupaca County after a confrontation with police there during an Aug. 1 demonstration. He has pleaded not guilty, with a March 25 motions hearing is scheduled in that case.
