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10 • December 15-31, 2020 Nation
THETRUCKER.COM
Courtesy: Omaha Police Department
At issue was a demonstration on July 25 over the lack of charges against a white bar owner
in the death of a 22-year-old Black man. As part of the demonstration, protesters blocked
Farnam Street bridge in Omaha, Nebraska. Police said the protesters failed to obtain a permit
and ordered them out of the street.
Judge tosses cases involving Omaha
protesters who blocked bridge
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
OMAHA, Neb. — A judge has dismissed
cases against 25 people who were arrested and
jailed for blocking traffic at a bridge during a
summer racial injustice protest in Omaha.
The Omaha World-Herald reports that
Douglas County Judge Marcena Hendrix
ruled Wednesday, Nov. 25, that Omaha’s ordinance
prohibiting the obstruction of a highway
or street is “overly broad” and “clearly
regulates protected speech.”
At issue was a demonstration on July 25 over
the lack of charges against a white bar owner
in the death of a 22-year-old Black man. James
Scurlock was shot to death during unrest that
followed George Floyd’s death in Minneapolis.
Owner of New York trucking company
charged with lying to U.S. DOT
THE TRUCKER NEWS SERVICES
ROCHESTER, N.Y. — Tony Kirik, 39, of
Rochester, New York, is facing criminal charges
for allegedly making false statements to the
U.S. Department of Transportation’s (DOT)
Federal Motor Commission Safety Administration
(FMCSA), and conspiring to do the same.
The charges carry a maximum penalty of five
years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
Assistant U.S. Attorney John J. Field, who
is handling the case, stated that, according
to the criminal complaint, Kirik owned and
controlled a trucking business called Dallas
Logistics. The company was put in the name
of a nominee owner to conceal the fact that
it was affiliated with another trucking company,
Orange Transportation, that Kirik also
controlled.
Orange Transportation had received a negative
rating from the DOT, and that negative
rating would have been applied to Dallas Logistics
had the true relationship between the
As part of the demonstration, protesters
blocked the Farnam Street bridge. Police said
the protesters failed to obtain a permit and ordered
them out of the street. Protesters who
didn’t comply were arrested.
Hendrix struck down a city ordinance that
makes it “unlawful for any person purposely
or knowingly to obstruct any highway or
other public passage, whether alone or with
others, without being licensed or privileged
to do so.”
Interim City Attorney Matt Kuhse said he
will consider next week whether to appeal.
“Our position is that the ordinance is not
targeting speech,” Kuhse said. “Nor is it void
(because of) vagueness.” 8
two entities been disclosed to the FMCSA.
To prevent the government from learning the
two entities were related and affiliated, Kirik
directed his employees to create and present
false documents and representations to the
FMCSA.
The defendant made an initial appearance
on Wednesday, Nov. 23, before U.S. Magistrate
Judge Marian W. Payson and was released.
The criminal complaint is the result of an
investigation by special agents of the DOT’s
Office of Inspector General, under the direction
of Special Agent-in-Charge Douglas
Shoemaker, Northeast Region, and the Internal
Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation
Division, under the direction of Jonathan D.
Larsen, Special Agent-in-Charge, New York
Field Office.
The fact that a defendant has been charged
with a crime is merely an accusation, and the
defendant is presumed innocent until and unless
proven guilty. 8