Biker Sought In Sneak Attack On BLM Protester

JUNE 18--The scrawny 64-year-old biker who was recorded sneaking up on a Black Lives Matter protester and punching him in the head from behind has been charged with assault and is being sought by Ohio police.

In a Municipal Court affidavit filed yesterday, Johnnie Bryon Devault is accused of striking Nicholas Reardon “in the back of his head in an attempt to cause physical harm.”

The assault occurred Sunday afternoon during a BLM protest in Bethel, a village 30 miles east of Cincinnati. Devault’s sneak attack, cops say, was captured by “several recording devices” that were “surrendered to Police as evidence of a crime.”

While Devault’s attack on Reardon appeared to occur in front of a cop, Bethel’s police chief contends that the officer did not actually witness the crime. Tipsters subsequently identified Devault as the assailant, prompting police to issue an arrest warrant for him.

The peaceful BLM protest was met by a significantly larger group of counterprotesters, many of whom were armed and arrived in Bethel on motorcycles. Devault was among the group of counterprotesters who roughed up or sought to intimidate demonstrators.

The court filing lists Devault’s last known address as a residence about 15 miles from Bethel.

Devault has previously resided in Florida, where he was twice convicted of driving without a valid license. He was arrested in November 2010 for grand theft and dealing in stolen property, but prosecutors subsequently declined to pursue the felony charges.

Devault is pictured above in a Florida booking photo.

While living in Florida, Devault registered to vote as a Republican, though it appears he has not cast a ballot there in several years. (1 page)