Charges dropped against several arrested at UVa protest (2024)

One by one, the charges lodged against those arrested at an encampment of anti-war protesters at the University of Virginia earlier this month are being dropped.

Kristen Finn, a local freelance photographer, was among the 27 people arrested on May 4 when UVa administrators called in Virginia State Police to break up the small encampment that had been quietly protesting Israel's ongoing war in Gaza for four days.

Although she was among the crowd of onlookers, supporters, counterprotesters and media that had gathered at the scene and not sitting within the camp itself, Finn faced the most serious of the charges: assaulting an officer. The other 26, mostly students, faculty and alumni, were charged with trespassing.

On Wednesday, Albemarle County dropped the charges against Finn — and five others.

According to a criminal complaint written by an Albemarle County police officer, Finn assaulted his colleague while police were pushing members of the public off Grounds on May 4. Three days later, Finn's arrest and her charges were highlighted by UVa Chief Operating Officer J.J. Davis during a "virtual town hall" hosted by the school's administration to underscore the threat the scene posed to the university community.

But multiple witnesses, as well as video evidence, refuted the officer’s account and the alleged danger Finn posed to the public, which may have ultimately resulted in her case being thrown out.

“It was very clear that the charge was a lie and the prosecutor had no choice,” UVa professor Geeta Patel, who was in the courtroom Wednesday morning and witnessed Finn’s arrest, told The Daily Progress. “I really think that the prosecutor did absolutely the right thing, because there was no evidence, none.”

Patel, who is older and walks with a cane, said Finn was helping her move out of the way on May 4.

The officer’s account of the incident claims that Finn was “impeding the dispersant of protestors.”

“While an officer was attempting to push Ms. Finn back, she pushed back against ACPD officer Kirby and punched him,” the officer wrote in his paperwork.

Ryan Lanford, a fourth-year UVa student and a photographer for the student newspaper the Cavalier Daily, witnessed Finn’s arrest and saw nothing of the sort.

“It was an interesting use of force,” Lanford said, corroborating Patel’s account that Finn was attempting to help Patel and keep her from being pushed by police.

“She was definitely grabbed and pulled behind the police line,” Lanford said. “I did not see her punch an officer. Her back was turned when she was pulled down. At most, I’d say she might have bumped [an officer] when they were pushing forward, but I wouldn’t say it was intentional.”

Video of the arrest does not show Finn punching anyone. She appears to be facing Patel and speaking to her calmly, her back to police, when an officer grabs her by the arms and yanks her behind the police line before putting her in handcuffs.

Finn was not the only arrestee who saw her charges dropped Wednesday in Albemarle County court. Five of the other individuals arrested May 4 had their cases thrown out, including a local freelance journalist.

“I can now say, without fear that I might get myself in trouble somehow, that this was complete bulls--t!” Evan Urquhart wrote on X. “I greatly respect the protesters, but I wasn't one of them. I clearly identified myself as press, both with a handmade badge and verbally to the officers.”

Fifteen other arrestees have agreed to take plea deals. They will need to remain on good behavior until Aug. 15 and then pay a court fee of less than $100 before they have their cases dismissed.

Attorney Jeff Fogel is representing one of the UVa students who took such a deal. He said his client had plans to leave the country and accepted the deal so she would not be burdened by the case.

The remaining six individuals who were arrested May 4 will have a hearing on July 16. By choosing not to take a plea deal, they will have the opportunity to see what evidence the prosecution has in its case. They can then make a decision on whether they want to take a deal or move to trial.

“Some people felt they want to be exonerated and show UVa has no basis to do this in the first place,” Fogel told The Daily Progress.

In doing so, Fogel said he believes the defendants can undercut any argument UVa may make that those who accepted plea deals did so because they are guilty.

“They want to see what evidence UVa claims to have showing they did anything wrong and be exonerated after trial,” Fogel said.

Patel said she was ecstatic after Wednesday's ruling.

“I’m very glad Finn was vindicated, because there was nothing else to be done. What else could police do but vindicate them?” Patel said.

Albemarle County Commonwealth’s Attorney Jim Hingeley has chosen not to seek jail time for anyone arrested on May 4, in accordance with his long-standing policy not to incarcerate people facing a trespassing charge for the first time.