Man charged over incident at council meeting

NEWPORT, Rhode Island (WJAR) — A man faces charges of simple assault and disorderly conduct and a U.S. Senate candidate asks questions, following a Newport City Council session on offshore wind.

The man, identified by onlookers at the meeting as David Booth, a field coordinator for Climate Jobs RI, is seen grabbing the collected wind turbine debris directly from the hands of Constance Gee, a member of Green Oceans, Westport, who stood up to speak.

The man is then seen throwing away the damaged fiberglass bag. Gee said she wanted to show people what was washed ashore from what appears to be the damaged turbine blade off Nantucket, adding that she felt shaken and intimidated by what happened at the meeting.

Patricia Morgan, a Republican representative for District 26, complained about a photo on the campaign website of U.S. Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), whom she is challenging in the election. Morgan said the attacker was prominently displayed on Whitehouse’s online presence, adding that Whitehouse should have condemned the man’s behavior.

NBC 10 News reached out to the panel’s commissioner and moderator, but neither would comment on the incident.