A group of armed and masked outsiders showed up in Vidor Saturday to try to communicate with passersby about their organization. Meantime a group of Vidor citizens gathered across the street to protest the group being their town. Vidor Police Chief Rod Carroll responded to the disturbance below.
On Saturday, August 5, 2023, at approximately 12:08 PM, the Vidor Police Department Dispatch Center received numerous calls of a disturbance at the intersection of N. Main and East Tram. The caller advised that there were several armed individuals with masks that were causing a disturbance. Upon arrival Officers located several individuals that were displaying an Aryan Freedom Network sign that were armed with firearms. There were also several citizens that were confronting this group across the other side of the street. Members of the Aryan Freedom Network were attempting to enter the roadway to distribute pamphlets. Entering the roadway to distribute pamphlets is a violation of the No Soliciting / No Peddling city ordinance due to the safety concern of entering moving traffic.
Officers met with the group who advised that they were in the process of leaving due to the aggressive atmosphere which had developed. Due to officers witnessing the individuals entering the roadway, several citations were issued. The leader of the group requested that Vidor PD follow them to the city limits as they feared further confrontation. The disturbance was quieted, and all individuals left the area.
The individuals involved were identified as:
Caleb Bentley Houston, Texas
Maxwell Barragy Lavernia, Texas
Tyler Everett Magnolia, Texas
Matthew Dawson Richmond, Texas
Mark Hayes Humble, Texas
Justin McConnell Houston, Texas
All individuals were checked and could legally possess a firearm.
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