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IN THE UN ITED STATES DISTM CT COURT DE2 23 2217

W ESTERN DISTRICT OF VIRGFNIA BYJULI . D () Ex cL K
;
DAN V ILLE D IV ISION E LE

ChristopherCantw ell,
Plaintiff, civilAaionxo. .tqcktzbo %:
Judge: Norman K. Moon

Edward J.Gorcenskiaka
EmilyFlorenceGorcenski
And
KristopherGoad
Defendants.

Comp laint

Tllisaction seeksreliefforthe maliciousprosecution ofthe Plaintiffby theDefendants,

and relieffortheirdeprivation on hiscivilrights.

N ature ofthe A ction

On hum id andwindlessnightofAugust11,2017,diversgroupsandindividuals
(hereinaftertheççMonumentals'')participatedinapoliticalonpublicpropertybelongingtothe
Comm onwea1th ofV irginia,pursuantto therightsguaranteed tothem by theFirstAm endm entto
theUnited StatesConstittztion and theConstitution ofVirginia. Upon reaching theThom as
Jefferson M onum entattheRotunda,they werem etby asmallgroup ofrevolutionary
communists,socialists,and/oranarchists(hereinafterANTIFA).ANTIFA wasalsoexercising
rightsguaranteed by theFirstAm endmentto theUnited StatesConstitution and theConstitution
ofV irginia.A sistheirpattern arld practice,A N TIFA Sattacked the M onum entals. Tw o
AN TIFAS subsequently sw ore outfalse and fraudulentcrim inalw arrants againstPlaintiff,a
M onum entalslated to speak attheAugust12 rally,in an effortto stop hisexercise ofhisrights
guaranteed by theFirstAm endm entto theUnited StatesConstitution andtheConstitution of
.

Virginia,and also maliciously punish,discredit,vex,and harasshim .

Jurisdiction and V enue

1.Thiscourthasjurisdictionpursuantto28U.S.C.1332.PlaintiffisaresidentofNew
Hampsllire.DefendantsareresidentsofVirginia,and the nmountin controversyexceeds
$75,000.00.

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2.VenueisproperintheW estern DistrictofVirginiapursuantto28U.S.C.1391(b)because
Plaintiffsclaim sarosein Charlottesville,Virginia.

Parties

3.PlaintiffChristopherCantwellisaresidentofKeene,New Hampshire. Cantwellwastobe

aspeakeratapoliticalrally in Charlottesvilleon August12,2017.Hewasamere
participantin theAugust11,2017 rally attheJefferson M onumentin Charlottesville.
Becauseofllispoliticalpositions,heregularly receivesdirethreatsofdeath andbodily
injul'
y.ExhibitA.

4.DefendantEdw ard Gorcenskiisawhitem aleresidentofCharlottesville,Virginiawho

changed hisnnm etoEmily FlorenceGorcenskiandpretendsto beaiçtransgenderwoman
ofcolon'' HeisaççM ediarelationsassistant''to ANTIFA who,on August11,was
wearingblack pants,a green tshirt,and carrying apurseon a strap.Gorcenski(tsworeout
thewatn'antagainstCantwell.,M e.Antifa.''HebelievesthattheDepartm entofHom eland
Security isttfascist,''and believesthatçlRepublicans''seek to assassinate him .ExhibitB.

5.DefendantKristopherGoad isaresidentofRichm ond,Virginia.Heisa violentpolitical

activist,supporter,and adherentofANTIFA. BeforeAugust11,2017,Defendanthad
neverseen ChrisCantwell,Plaintiffherein.On August11,2017,Goadwaswearing
glasses,sportedaGoadhasadiscomustache,hadlongishhair,andworeabluejean
jacket.ExhibitC.
O ther Im portantPersonsand E ntities

6.çlBeanyman''isan adherentofANTIFA .Heisashortwhitem alewith abeard.On August

l1,2017,heworeabrown-green tshirtand ablack beany.ExhibitD

7.Gtundersleeves''isan adherentofANTIFA.Heisa largewhitem ale,with abeard. On

August11,2017,hewaswearing an orr gelong sleeved tshirtunderashortsleeved
blue shortsleeved T shirt,thusexposing hisorangeundersleeves.ExhibitE

8.AN TIFA isan organization ofcom m unists,socialists and anarchists who seek to
overthrow the Constitution ofthe U nited States.ExhibitF

9.RobertTracci,EsquireistheCom monwealth'sAttornsy forAlbem arleCounty.

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 Statem entof Facts
NotaBene:IM P 1arevideoclipsorimagesattachedhereto.Thevideoclipscanbe
view ed with VCL M ediaplayer.Key içe''allowstheuserto advancefm m eby frnme.As
theeventsdescribed occurred overapproximately 25seconds,theclipsshould beviewed
atregularspeed,and also frameby frnme.

10.On oraboutAugust11,2017,aroundnoon,Plaintiff,wllilelawfully carryingaholstered

weapon,held am eetand greetin theW al-M artparkinglot.Gorcenskifound outaboutit,
andtipped offlocalreporters.Hethen wenttoW alM art,took aphoto ofCantwell
speaking topolice,and published iton twitterwiththecaption lçcantwellgetting
questionedby copsafterallegedly brandishing agun.''

11.Thateverling,Plaintiffparticipated in apoliticalrally attheThom asJefferson

M onument,nearthe Rottmdaon thepublicproperty oftheComm onwea1th ofVirginia
known astheUniversity ofVirginia. Gorcenskialso attended,soughtoutCantwell,and
inquired astohow theW al-M artmeetup went. SinceUVa doesnotallow deadly
weaponson itsproperty,Cantwellwascarrying akey chain pepperspray.

12.DefendantGoad andANTIFA anived attheM onum entbeforetheM onumentals,

Gorcenski,and Plaintiff.

13.The statueofJefferson facesgenerally north,towardsUniversity Avenue.TheRotunda

buildingisbehindhim ,orgenerally south.A rough diagram isattached asExhibitG.

14.Fororientation purposes,anANTIFA group had alargewhite'

sign on the south faceof
Jefferson.AnANTIFA inawheelchair(hereinafterççW heelchair'')hadtakenupa
positionatthenortheastcorneroftheMonument.(M PI)

15.Fororièntation purposes,by approximately 10:07p.m .,ANTIFA had gathered around the

baseofthe monum ent. DefendantsGoad,Gorcenski,and Undersleeveswerenearthe
northwestcornerofthem ontlm ent,aswasUndersleeves'wingman,Tom Keenan.
Gorcenskicrossed the north faceofthem onumentslm ing from westto east,approaclling
W heelchair.gM P2)A blindingwhitecameralightwasinplacenearthenorthwestcorner
ofthemonllment,shiningsouthwardtowardstheRotunda.gM P3)
16.Approxim ately 20 AN TIFA had chosen to link arm s around the base ofthe Thom as
Jefferson statue;thearrivingM omlmentalsformed adoughnutaroundthem.(MP4);the
two groupswerewithin feetofeach other,each exercisingtheirrightsto freespeech.

17.Atthenorthwestcom er,Goad,andUndersleeveswerenearthewestfaceofthe
monument.Undersleevesspontaneouslyattackedapersoninawhitejacketwhowas
filmingUndersleeveswithaphone.gM P6)

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18.Gorcenski,film ing with hisphone,moved acrossthenorth face,passed arotmd
W heelchairatthenortheastcom erand headed south acrosstheeastfaceofthe
monument.DefendantGoadtookupapositionatthenorthwestcorner.gM P7q

19.Some distanceoffofthenorthwestcorner,Plaintiffwasstanding in theM onumentals'

doughnut.gM P51

20.On thewestface,nearthesouthwestcorner,Undersleeveswashaving aheated

discussionwithan unknown baldindividualinawhitetarlktop(hereinaftertç-l-ankTop'').
(M P8j Plaintiffisinthebackground. '

21.Gorcenskittm led and m oved south acrosstheeastface,then westacrossthesouth face,

and then north along thewestface,stopped behind Undersleeves,then tllrned around and
headed back south,fnallytaking up aposition som edistancefrom thesouthwestconwr,
facingsouth.(M P9)

JJ.Thefollowing paragraphsdescribethe many eventswhich takeplacewithin thespaceof

approximately 25seconds.

ActionsofDefendantG oad nearthenorthw estcorner.

23.N earthe northw estcorner,U ndersleeves,Beanym an,and others attacked the m an

wearing atnnk top.Tank Top defended him self,knockedUndersleevesto thegrotmd,
knocked Beanym an to theground,andthen retreated approximately 6feet,asdidnearby
Monumentals. EM PIOJ DefendantGoad'sglasseswereonhisnose.

24.DefendantGoadwasnearthenorthwestcorner,approxim ately six feetto Beanyman's

rightandrearfrom BeanymanduringBeanyman'sattack onUndersleeves.(M PI1)
DefendantG oad's glassesw ere on hisnose.

25.Beanyman roseup from the ground,and changed frontto facePlaintiff.He and

DefendantGoad1edANTIFA forwardatPlaintiff.gM P12)DefendmltGoad'sglasses
w ere on hisnose.

26.Beanym an'sface w as contorted w ith rage,histeeth w ere clenched,he assum ed an attack

stance,anddrew backhisleftclenchedhandtostrikethePlaintiff.(M P12),
(MP13)gMP14j.

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27.Outnllmbered,Plaintiffpeppersprayedtheleader,Beanym an,in thefaceatdistanceof
about12 inches.Beanym an retreated back totheM onument. Plaintiffretreated
approximatelyfivefeettothewest.gM P151DefendantGoad'sglasseswereonhisnose.

28.UnaffectedbyPlaintiffssprayatBeanyman,withinasplitsecondDefendantidentified
Plaintiffasthesprayerandpolntedtohim forabouttwomorewholeseconds.(MP16)
D efendantGoad'sglasses were on his nose.

29.ToDefendantGoad'sleft(south),Undersleeveswasbrawlingandthenkickedthehead
ofaM onumentalonthegroundinatracksuit(hereinafterttTracksuif').AsTracksuit
attempted torisèup offtheground,Undersleeve 'skicked him mightily in thetorso,and
thenthen attacked in anorthwesterly diredion diredly atPlaintiffand others,whowere
movingforwardtorescueTracksuit.EMP17J Cantwelldisplayedpepper'spray from the
rearrnnk.Abouttobeoverwhelm ed by fotlrorfiveM onum entals,Undersleevesturned
around and attacked rightback intothefightoccuningtohisrearand overtracksuit.

30.ANTIFA shiftedlaterallytotheirownleftputtingaperson(hereinafterEçGingham
Shi1't''linfrontofDefendantGoad.(M P18) DefendantGoad'sglasseswereonhisnose.

31.A manwith a35mm camera(hereinafterçtcnmeraman'')wastoDefendantGoad's

immediateright.A largebearded M onllm entalin a gray shirtandbaseballcap with a
flashlight(hereinafterçlFlashlighf')wastoCameraman'sright,andbetweenDefendant
andPlaintiff.(M P1% DefendantGoadlookedtohisright(north).EMP201Defendant
Goad'sglasseswere on hisnose.

32.W hileGoad waslooking north,to Goad'sand Cnmeraman'sright,an arm with a dragon

tattoottthereinafterDragonann')wentbetweenCnmernmanandFlashlightandpepger
sprayed Goad,to which he reacted by covering hisface.Ginghnm shirtreacted simllarly.
(MP21) DefendantGoad'sglasseswereonhisnose.

33.AtthetimethatDragonarm sprayed Goad,Cantwellwasapproxim ately 10 feetfrom

Goad,nearthesouthwestcorner,headingtothesoutheast.(M P21)
34.CantwellwastryingtostopUndersleevesfrom joiningthefightaboveTracksuit.(M P22)
35.Abouttllree seconds afterCantwell'sinteraction w ith U ndersleeves,D ragonann,not
Cantwell,sprayedDefendantGoad.gM P23),gMP 21)DefendantGoad'sglasseswereon
hisnose.

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36.Atthenorthwestcorner,two torch candlesfelltotheground,and therespectivelines
parted.Gingham shirtwasin frontofand to theleftofDefendantGoad,both on the
north sideofthemonument.gMP24qDefendantGoad'sglasseswereonhisnose.

37.DefendantGoad and ANTIFA movedback acrossthenorth faceapproximately 4 feet,

puttingtheirâontm idway on thenorth faceofthemonlzment.A person in awhitesllirt
withatikitorch (hereinafterttW hiteShirtTiki''approachedGingham Shirtand
DefendantGoad.Goadhashishandsinacurioustdprayingmantis''position.EMP25jBy
thistim e,Plaintiffhad been nearthesouthwestcornerofthem onum entfor
approximately fourseconds.DefendantGoad'sglasseswereon hisnose.

38.W hiteShirtTikiloweredhistikitorch andfaked atGingham Shirt.Thiscaused W hite

ShirtTiki'storch candle to falloutofsaid torch towardsGingham Shirt. Itbounced off
ofhisthighandontotheground.(M P25qAtthistime,Plaintiffwasnearthesoutheast
Corner.

39.DefendantGoad looked atW hite ShirtTiki'scandleon theground.W hite Shirtsm mg

hisrattan atGingham Shirt,causing Gingham Shirtto retreat. Defendant'svision
focused on W hiteShirtTiki'scandle and attemptedto extinguish it.W hite ShirtTiki
swtmghisrattanatDefendant,who saw itcomingandretreated.(MP26qAtthesame
tim e,to Goad'sright,a m an in a red shirtsm m g hisrattan atG oad,which also caused
Goadtoretreat.(M P27) DefendantGoad'sglasseswereonhisnose.
40.GoadandANTIFA retreatedeastacrossthenorthfaceofthemonument.(M P28)
DefendantGoadhim selfretreated acrossthenorth faceofthemonum entto thenortheast
Con ler.

41. U pon reaching the northeastcorner ofthe m onum ent,tm know n M onum entalsw ere
yelling outçtl-lold,Hold.''Goad,stillwith çspraying m antis''hands,wasnearW heelchair,
smilingandlaughing.Goad,possiblywithouthisglasses,joinedtheclusterofANTIFA
nearthe centeroftheeastfaceofthe monument. lnsidethecluster,an unknown person
knowingly and intentionally released anoxiousgas.An individualisseen to cough,and a
man in atouring cap in heard to cough.DefendantGoad,now minushisglasses,forthe
firsttimewipeshisfaceandeyes.EM P29q TheremarkcanbeheardçGf*****gANTIFA
justgassedthemselves.''(M P30j

42.Goad him selfw asgassed.He m ade hisw ay w ithoutm olestation through the
M onumentalsleaningonabeardedANTIFA inagreenjacketwearingabaseballcap
withsunglassesonit,justafterapersonpresentsaysttstrongsmelloftgas,'(M P50q
(M P51j(M P30j

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A ctions of G orcenskinear the southw estcorner.

43.Gorcenskiwasafew feetfrom thesouthwestcorner,facing south.(ReferencePara.22.)

(MP38);Heturnedtofaceeast,thenturnedbacktofacesouth.EMP39) A fightbrokeout'
to Gorcenski'srightfront(PlaidShirt),andanothertohisrightinvolvingamanina
whiteshirtwith adistinctivehaircut.(hereinafterçtl-
laircuf').Gorcenskilookedtohis
front,thenrightfront,andthenturnedtotherightandlookedbehindhimself(east),
towardsLindsay Elizabeth M oers,anANTIFA whohadan aspfullydeployed.EM P40a).
.

Gorcenslcirapidly retreated in an easterly direction acrossthesouth faceofthemonument

to aposition nearthesoutheastcorner. Therehestopped and looked west,with aphone
intherighthand.(M P40)Plaintiff,pursuingUndersleeves,alsowenteastacrossthe
southfaceofthemonument,approximately 10feetbehindGorcenski.EM P40).
44.Plaintiffw asnearthe southeastcornerbutw asblocked by ablack clad white m ale w ith a
darkbaseballcap,whowenttowardstheground.gMP41aScreencap) A verytallmanin
agreenshirtwithabackpack (Ta11Greenshirt)wastoGorcenski'sright.(M P41b
screencap)Cantwellwasapproximately6feetfzom Gorcenski,whoseshouldersfi11thg
.

fram e.Gorcenskiraised hisphoneandtook apicture.Plaintiffisto Gorcenski'sleft.

Gorcensld and dreenshirtblocktheview.(MP41)

45.Atthesoutheastcornerofthem onument,between Gorcenski/TallGreenshirtand the

com erofthem onument,LindsayElizabeth M oersraised herasp to strike.Plaintiffwent
forwardtodisarm her,callingGigetthatstickl''(M P34j
46.AsCantwellwasattemptingto disarm Lindsay Elizabeth M oers,Beanyman attacked
Cantwellfrom thebaseofthemonument.AnotherM onumental(hereinafterStl-leadlock'')
interceptedBeanymanandputhim inaheadlock.(M P35j(M P35aScreencap).Cantwell
waspeppersprayedbyBeanyman-(MP36)(MP36aScreencapqCantwellreactedtothe
pepperspray attack.EMP37)
47.A tthetim e Cantw ellw as sprayed,G orcenski'shead wasaboutlevelw ith Greenshirt's
armpit,EM P42)andGorcenskiwasimmediatelybehindCantwell.
48.Afterbeing sprayed,Cantwellmoved southeasterly,tunzed around,and then retired out
ofthecrowdawaytothesoutheast.EM P42I Hewastreatedfortheeffectsofpepper
spray.

49.OfficersBryantandClimore,UVa.Police,anived.gM P37)

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50.Overatthenortheastcornerofthem onllm çnt,lmknown personswereyelling outltl-lold,
Hold.''EM P29) GorcenskiwasstandingoppositetheeasterneastfaceoftheM onument,
lookingathisphone,and puthisglassesin hishair.Goad then came arotmd thenortheast
cornerofthem onumentnearW heelchair,sm iling and laughing.An individualisseen to
cough,and am an in atouring cap in heard to cough.Som eonerem arked that1ûf-
*****g
A'N-flFA justgassedthemselves.''Despiteclaimingtobepeppersprayedlongbefore,for
thefirsttime Gorcenskiwipeshisface.Heisstandingnextto ashortm an in ayellow
shirt(Yellowshirt),whocovershisnosewiththeshirt.EM P43)

51.By approxim ately 10.17,theUVA ANTIFA and theirwhitesign passed unmolested

through theM onlzm entals and took up aposition atthebaseofan overhead lightabout
20yardseastofthemonument,passingbyapoliceofficerwhiledoingso.(M P44)
52.Afterheputilisglassesin hishair,Gorcenskiresllmed livestrenmingllimselffrom his
phone.Yellowshirt,with hisshirtoverhisnose,can beseen in thebackground.
Gorcenskiclaim ed:ICSO I'vebeen maced.Therehavebeen brawls.TheN azisP **1*g
attackedus. They pilmed usaroundthestatute.Therearebrawls.Igotmy glassesstuck
in my hair.''Gorcenskim adeherwayunm olested tlurugh theM onum entals,to theUVA
ANTIFA withtheirsign,andaskingonlyforhelptoremovehisglasses.(M P45q

53.Both Goad and GorcenskiwerepresentattheANTIFA gasreleaseon theeastfaceofthe

m onllm entneartheend oftheeventwhen personswere shouting ltl-lold,Hold''.

Auzust12.2017
54.AftertheJefferson M onumentevent,Gorcenskisaw theattached photograph ofCantwell
spraying Beanym an nearthenorthwestcornerofthem onum ent.ExhibitH.Gorcenski
tweeted outthisim agewiththecaption çT hisisChrisCantwelldeployingpepperspray
againstpeoplewho areclearly in de-escalation poses.''Gorcensld realized an opportunity
to conflatetheAN TIFA gasreleasewith theim ageofCantwell'sspraying ofBeanym an
in an effortto thwartCantwell'sspealdng on August12 by havinghim r ested,to create
afalsenarrativethattheM onum entalshad gratuitously attacked ANTIFA thenight
before,andto thereby discredit,vex,harass,and intim idateCantwellandthoseopposed
to AN TIFA .

55.Atapproxim ately 9:00 m m .G orcenskicontacted the U niversity ofV irginia Police.

Gorcenskiidentified him selfas a çlm edia relations assistantto AN TIFA N''w ho had
çsfollowedthea1tRightforsom etime.'' Gorcenskireported thathewasitsprayed inthe
eyes with pepper spray.''In hisw ritten statem entto law enforcem ent,Gorcensld
represented only thathe çtfeltthe btuming in m y eyesofpepperspray orm ace.Soon m y
mucusmembranesburnedandIhadtroublebreathing.''lnherswonzjtatementtothe
m agistrate,however,Gorcensld claim ed only CtIinhaled/wasaffected by a chem ical
spray''and lttheoverspray affected m edirectly.M y eyesand sinuseswereburning.''

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56.Gorcensld claim ed to identify Cantwellashaving sprayed him from ExhibitH.

57.OfficerSmallwood,UVaPolice,would nottakeoutwarrantson hisown authority.

lnstead,herequired Gorcenskito do so,butsigned asauthorizing itpursuantto Va.Code
Sec.19.2-71and 72. OfficerSmallwood erroneously inform ed Gorcensld thatCantwell
wasonly person who usedpepperspray attheAugust11event.Despiteherpresence
when Beanym an sprayed Cantwell,and attheeastfaceANTIFA gasrelease,Gorcenski
promptly putouton socialmediathe falsestatementthatCantwellwastheonly pepper
sprayeratthe A ugust11 event.

58.Two warrantswereissued,oneforunlawfulwounding by acid orcaustic agentunderVa.

CodeSec.18.2-52 and anotherforunlawfulreleaseofanoxiousgas,underVa.Code
Sec.18.2-312.Cudously,thesameafsdavitwasused forboth charges.Both areClass6
felonies.A copy testeofthe 18.2-52 chargeisattachedhereto asExhibit1.

59.Gorcenskim adesurethatthewarrantswereissued,and then tçleaked detailson social

m edim''

60.According to Goad,hewasinform ed by Glotherpeople''and tisocialm edia''thatthe

person who sprayed him wasCluistopherCantwellbeforeGorcenskiintbrm edhim .At
sometim eon August12,2017,Gorcenskipersonally m etwith Goad and inform ed Goad
thathe,Gorcenski,hadseenan imageofCantwellpeppersprayinjandthathe
recognized Cantwellfrom thatim age. Gorcenskialso inform ed Goad thathe,Gorcenski,
hadtaken outwarrantsagainstCantwell.

61.Inthe cleanup aftertheAugust11event,UVa.Policerecovered an em pty canisterof

(tsabre Red''Pepperspray.

A uzust 17.2017

62.Based on Gorcenski'sfalseinform ation,on oraboutAugust17,2017,DefendantGoad

travelledto Charlottesville andm etwith Sgt.Acord oftheUVa.Police.Henarrated the
sequence ofeventsto Acord:tçlsaw aperson in a brown shirtgetpeppersprayed by a
person Iknow isChristopherCantwell.Iyelled çthismanhasmaseEsic)andpeople
started sw inging torches atm e.Idodged them and rem oved m y prescription glasses.I
saw acanisterofcitronellaonfireandtriedtoexhaustion Esic)thefirewithmyfoot.
W henIfailedtodoso,IlookedupandCantwellmasedgsic)ine,Icouldnotsee,gsic)
beyond thatbutfeltstrikesto my body afterthat.''

63.On August17,2017,andpursuanttoVa.Code Sec.19.2-71and 72,DefendmltGoad

completed afonn entitledçtcriminalComplaint''beforethem agistrate. On it,Goad

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 sworethatthestatementsthereonweretruetothebestofhisknowledgeandbelietl
includingthestatementGtcantwellusedage1masegsic)pepperspray atmyfaceand
cause(sicjmetolosemyvisiontemporarily (sic).1wasstruck bytorchesbyunknown
personswhilem y vision wasgone.'' A copyteste oftheGoad chargesisattached as
ExhibitJ.

64.Sgt.Aeord would nottakethewarrantoutofhisown accord' ,he,too,required Goad to

do so,butAcord authorized itunderVa.Code Sec.19.2-71and 72.Thisprompted the
issuance ofathird warrantform aliciousgasrelease,aClass3 felony.

A uaust21.2017

65.On oraboutAugust21,2017,Plaintiffturned him selfin totheLynchbtlrg police.The

Charlottesvillem agistratedenied bond.

66.On oraboutAugust21,2017,PlaintiffmovedtheAlbem arle County GeneralDistrict

Courtforbond.

Auaust31.2017

67.On August31,2017,when the easewascalled forthebond hearing,theComm onwea1th

ofVirginia,by RobertTracci,Esquire,Attorney fortheCom monwealth,m ovedto nm end
thetwo Gorcenskicharges,upgradingthem from unlawful(aClass6Felony)to
malicious(aClass3felony),which waséllowedoverPlaintiff'sobjection.
68.PursuanttoVa.Code 19.2-120(d),apyesumptionagainstbondexistsforanymalicious
woundingunderVa.Code 18.2-51etseq.,which includesVa.Code 18.2-52,one ofthe
chargesthatGorcenskitook out.

69.Aftertheam endment,the Albemarle GeneralDistrictCourtaw arded Plaintiffabond in

the amotmtof$25,000.A preliminary hearingwasscheduled forNovem ber9,2017.

70.TheComm onwea1th appealed the bond decision to theAlbemarleCircuitCourt,which

laterthatdaydeniedbondonthegroundsthattheVa.CodeSec.19.2-120(d)
presumption againstbondhad notbeen rebutted.

N ovem ber 3.2017

71.Som etim ebetween November3,2017,andNovem ber7,2017,DefendantGoad m et

alonew1111RobertTracciEsquire,Comm onwealth'sAttorney forAlbem arle Cotmty.

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 72.Therecovered empty pepperspray canisterwassentto thestatelaboratory fortingerprint
comparison to Cantwell'sfingerprintsonly. Cantwell'sfingerprintswerenoton it.

Novep ber8,2017-Goad qase

73.On oraboutNovember8,2017,approxim ately 19 hoursbeforetheprelim inary hearing,

M r.Tracciinform ed defendant's counselthat1tM r.Goad wasno longercertain thatthe
directdeploymentofgelpeppersprayhedescribed in thatcomplaintresulted from an
action by M r.Cantw ell.'' Traccialso claim ed 1GM r.G oad w illindicate thathis glasses
had been rem oved by thatpointm akingpositiveidentitk ation ofM r.Cantwelldiftkult.''
Traccialso intended to continue to pursue the Goad charge anyw ay. See em ailof 11/8/17
at2.38p.m .,attàched hereto asExhibitK .See,generally,M P 1I-M P 30.

Novep ber 9.2017-G oad case

74.On November9,2017,D efendantGoad admitted thathehad sworn outthewarranttmder

oath.Goad adm ittedthathesigned thesworn statement.Goad adm itted thatthe sworn
statem entwas: Gtcantwellused agelm acespray atm y face and caused meto losemy
vision tem porarily.''

75.Despitethelightfrom scoresoftorchesand theblinding cam eralight,afterclaiming

20/60 vision withouthisglasses,Goadtestified thatheagreed with Traccithatitwould
befairto say ifitwere dark andtherewasalotofchaosgoing on itwouldbe diftkultto
.

identify everythingthat'sgoing on,everythinghappening,insinuatingthatGoad'spoor

visioncausedhim tomisidentifythetwoutterlydifferentpersonsinExhibitL.(Cantwell
andDragonnrm)OnCrossexamination,Goadadmittedrepeatedlythathisglasseswere
on his nose before claim ing the video resolution w as too poorto furthersay.

76.Afterm eeting with Tracci,DefendantGoad'snew sworn testim ony wasthatKtmultiple

peopley''butnotCantwell,had used ge1macepepperspray in Defendant'sface.

77.Afterm eeting with Tracci,Goad'snew sworn testim onywasthat;tIsufferedm ore

instancesofbeing attacked with acausticagentthan in my originalstatem ent.'' Despite
swearingonly to ge1m acefrom Cantwellin hisface,Goad now sworeunderoath had
alsobeen affected by overspray from the Beanyman spray and Cantwell'sdisplay against
U ndersleeves.

78.Goadtestified thatG1lwas,Iwasin theroom with M r.Tracciwhen Ifotmd outthatIhad

been hitm ultipletimes.''

79.Despitethevideo (M PIO,12)showingGoadwatchingBeanymanfightTankTop,Goad
testified thathe did notsee Beanym an strike arlyone,norbe violent.

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 80.Afterhismeeting with Tracci,Goad abandoned theççcantwellgelmace''version and
testified thathe instantaneously feltttburning on hisface''afterBeanym an'sspraying.
.

81.Aftermeeting alonewith Tracci,and despite thevideo showing Goad behind Gingham

shirt,withhisglasseson,andabout7feettoUndersleeves'dght,gM P17,181,Goad
f'urthertestified thathewasalso tûaffected''when Cantwelldisplayed atUndersleeves.
Afterhism eeting with Tracci,anddespitethevideo showingDragonarm sprayingGoad
4 secondsthereafter,Goad testified thatheççwasaffected''in <<a few seconds''to
ççcompletely lose(hisqvision,''ççfeelbumingon Ehis)skin,anddifficultybreathing''by
Cantwell'sspray, and notby Dragon Ann's.

82.Despitejusttçcompletely losinghisvision,''Goadneverthelesswatchedapersonswinga
torch athim .

83.Despitethevideo showing Goadretreatinghalfway acrossthe north faceofthe

monum ent,stomping ata torch candle,and avoiding anothertorch swing, Goad testified
thatheçltriedto openmyeyejustenoughtoseeoneperson1wasfamiliarwith,asked
them towalkmeoutof(tlhere.''DespitethepresenceofOfficersClimore,Bryant,and
m ostoftheUVaand CharlottesvillePoliceDepartments,Goad ftzrthertestified thathe
laterEtatlrempted to look fora1aw enforcementofficerto haveastatem ent.''

84.Despitepreviously testifying thatEm ily Gorcenskihadtoldhim thatCantwellwasthe

sprayer,Goad testified thathe only review edvideo andby thatm eansalone identified
Cantwellastheperson who had sprayed gelm aceinhisface.

. 85.Goad attem ptedto explain how hisstory changed afterhismeeting with Tracciby
claimingthathisstory had notchanged afterhismeetingwith Tracci.

November9.2017-Corcenskicase
86.Despiteswearingunderoaththatshesaw themanwhosespray affectedher,Exhibit1,
Gorcensld testifiedthatshedid notin factseethem an spraying,butonly asm all
altercation to her right.

87.Afterreporting to Officer Sm allw ood thathe w asttsprayed in the eyes w ith pepper
spray,''and then swearingunderoath thathe wasonly affected by pepperspray aftera
fghtbroke outto hisright,Gorcenskitestified thatshe ççw as affected specifically by the
Beanyman spray,''despitebeingon theopposite com erofthe monum ent,about30feet

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 away,with severalbodiesbetweenthem.(M P52;Gorcenskiistheredcircle;Cantwellis
theblueoval.)
88.Afterreportingto OfficerSmallwood thathetçfelttheburning in my eyesofpepperspray
ormace.Soon my m ucusm embranesburnedand Ihad troublebreathing,''and swearing
thatç$Iinhaled/wasaffected by achemicalspray''and tttheoverspr>y affected me directly.
M y eyesand sinuseswereburning,''Ggrcenskitestified ççIrecallhaving abum ing
sensation in my face and my eyesand my noseand my eyesstarted towaterandlstarted
to losem y vision.'' Hethen again testifiedthatheonly tûinhaledthesubstanceand it
started btuming in my nose and eyes.''

89.Despitevideo showing 21secondsofGorcenskiretreating acrossthesouth faceofthe

m onum ent,taking apictureofCantwellwith hisphonewhiledoing so,being behind
Cantwellwhen hewassprayed,reactivatingherlivestream on hisphone,and walking
unmolested outofthecrowd whilelivestraming,Gorcenskitestifed Gt1wasincapacitated
foraperiodof15to30seconds.lnitiallyIjuststartedseeing- feelingmyeyeswater.
M y initialreaction wasto tryto getto safety andto retrievem y phonewhich had been
knocked outofm y hand. OnceIretrievedm yphone,1tried to find apathto safety and
couldnotseeaway out.''EEmphasisaddedq.

90.Despiteneverbeforem entioning two spray events,atTracci'sprompting,Gorcenski

testified thatshewasalso affected by a second,separateeventthatshesaw on avideo.
Despiteearlierswearing thatshehad notseen them an who sprayed on August11,
Gorcenskinow claim ed thatshe in factsaw Cantwellversus Undersleeves,im plying that
thiswasaseparate eventfrom theBeanym an spray,even though thetwo eventswere at
the snm e place and only five seconds apart:tçIobserved M r.Cantw ellreaching over a
group sprayingpepperspray into thegroup ofpeople Iwassunounded by.'' Atthetime,
Gorcenskiwasontheopposite.(south)sideofthe(opaque)monument.
91.Despitevideo show ing 21secondsof Gorcenskiretreating acrossthesouth face ofthe
monum ent,taking apictureofCantwellwith hisphonewhiledoingso,beingbehipd
Cantwellwhen hewassprayed,and reactivating hislivestream on thephone,andwalldng
tmmolested outofthecrowd whilelivestrenming,Gorcenskitestified to different :
sequence ofeventsthatoccurred afterthe second deploym ent:ççAfterbeing impairçd,I
looked foraway outofthecrowdknowing lhad only afew secondsbefore1would
completely losemy vision.Icould notfind away outso1tried to takea coupleof*
pictures w ith m y phone...''

92.Despite being m ere feetaw ay when Beanym an sprayed H aircut,and despite being w ithin
inches ofCantw ellw hen Beanym an sprayed Cantw ell,and despite being where ' '
IW N TIFA gassed them selves,''G orcenskiswore underoath thatCantw ellw as
responsible forher spraying because tçltw asthe closestto m e and itw as in a direction in
which Iwasstanding.''

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 93.Despitevideo ofDragonann'sspray in herdirection,Gorcenskitestified thatshewasnot
affected by Dragonarm 'sspray becauseitwasnotin herdirection and threefeetfurther
away than Cantwell's.

N ovem ber 9.2017-6:00 p-m .

94. On Goad'scharge,the Albem arle GeneralDistrictCourtfound asfollows:GtIorderthe

accused discharged atprelim inary hearing and thechargedism issed.ExhibitJ,second
page,upperlefthand corner.

95.On Gorcenski's18.2-52 charge,theAlbem arle GeneralDistrictCourtfound asfollows:

ççIordertheaccused discharged atprelim inary hearing andthechargedism issed.Exllibit
1.second page,upperlefthand corner.

D ecem ber 7.2017

96.Plaintiffpostedbondandwasreleasedfrom jail,havingselwed 107daysordurancevile

based onthe false,fraudulent,and changed statem entsofGoad and Gorcenski.

ClaimsforRelief

FirstC ause ofA ction

M alicious Prosecution

97.Plaintiffreassertsand reallegestheforegoingparagraphsasiff'
ully setforth herein.
98.Goadand Gol- .censkiinitiated the prosecutionsin ExhibitsIand Jboth ofwhich
terminated in am almernotunfavorabletotheplaintift- .
99.The prosecutionsw ere w ithoutprobable cause.
100.G oad and G orcenskiacted w ith ad uallnalice.

101.Plaintiffhashad to expend m oniesto defendagainstDefendants'claim s,hashaddireet

injuryinthelossofpresentandfutureearningsandprofitsinhisbusiness,andhas
sufferedinjurytohisreputationandgoodnnme.

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 Second Cause ofA ction
A buse ofProcess
102.Plaintiffreasserts and realleges the foregoing paragraphsasiffully setforth herein.

103.DefendantGoad'spurposeinswearingunderoathtçcantwellusedagelmasegsic)
peppersprayatmyfaceandcause(sicqmetolosemyvisiontemporarily (sicl''andhis
othercontradictory and false statem entswastopunish,vex and harassapolitical
opponentratherthantobringanoffendertojtlstice.DefendantGorcensld'sptu-
posein
m aking falsestatementsto policeto obtain arrestwarrants,and hisothercontradictory
and false statem entsw ere to preventCantw ellfrom spealdng,and to pulzish,vex and
hm'assapoliticalopponentratherthantobringan offendertojustice.
104.DefendantsGoad and Gorcenski'salteration oftheirsworn testim ony afterlneeting with
theColnm onwealth'sAttorney wereactsin theuse ofprocessnotproperin theregular
prosecution ofthe proceedings.These actionsweremotivated by actualm alice.

105.Plaintiffhashad to expend m oniesto defend againstDefendants'claim s,hash>d direct

injuryin thelossofpresentandfutureealmingsandprotksinhisbtlsiness,andhas
sufferedinjurytohisreptltationandgoodname.

T hird Cause ofA ction

Falseim prisonm ent

106.Plaintiffreassertsand reallegestheforegoing paragraphsasiffully setforth herein.

107.Bym aking falsestatementsunderoath,based on tainted infonnation,andby

com municating thisfalseinfolnnation totheUVaPolice,them agistrate,and the
Albem azle Cotlnty GeneralDistrictCourt,Goad and Gorcensld caused theillegal
detention ofthe Plaintiffsperson,by theunlawfulexectltion oflawfulprocess.These
actionswerem otivated by actuaimalice.

108.Plaintiffhashad to expend m oniesto defend againstD efendants'claim s,hashad direct

iniury in thelossofpresentandfutureearningsandprofitsin hisbusiness,andhas
suffered injurytohisreptltationand goodname.

109.Plaintiffwillelecthisdamagesforthiscauseofactionafterthejuryrendersitsverdict.

Case 3:17-cv-00089-NKM Document 1 Filed 12/28/17 Page 15 of 16 Pageid#: 15

 PRAYER FOR RELIEF
W herefore,Plaintiffsrespectfully requestan awardofthefollowing relief:
127.damagesin an nm ountin excessof$107,000 from each Defendant; '
128.Ptmitive damagesin theam ountof$350,000 from each Defendant;
129.Suchotherreliefastojusticeshallseem meet.

A JU RY TRIA L IS D EM A N D ED

ChristopherCantwell
By Cotm sel
t

/s/
Elm erW oodard
Attorney atLaw P.C.
V SB 27734
5661U S HN 29
Blairs,VA 24527
434-TRiang1e 8-3422
434.878.3422
isuecrooks@comcastnet

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