DA seeks additional charges against protester Patel

Jason Kotowski
·1 min read
878

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) — The District Attorney’s Office is pursuing three additional felony counts against the protester arrested last week after telling the Bakersfield City Council, “We’ll see you at your house, we’ll murder you.”

A motion filed by prosecutors in the case against 28-year-old Riddhi Patel says they want to add two counts of attempting to commit criminal threats, and another count of making criminal threats.

Patel, who is free on $500,000 bail, is currently facing 18 felony counts: 10 counts of making criminal threats, and eight counts of threatening a public official.

A hearing on the motion is scheduled Wednesday.

Patel, one of several people to demand the council pass a resolution for a ceasefire in Gaza, was railing against recent security measures put in place for city council meetings when she made the statement during public comment at the April 10 meeting.

Earlier, she told council members she hopes someone brings back the guillotine “and kills all you m————.”

Pro-Palestinian protesters have interrupted several previous meetings. Several are facing charges, among them a woman accused of breaking a glass door at city hall, causing an estimated $2,000 in damage, and a woman accused of spitting on an officer.

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