San Gabriel Man Arrested In Bear Spray Attack On Trump Protesters

SAN GABRIEL, CA — Police arrested a San Gabriel man in connection with a bear spray attack on the Santa Monica Pier during a confrontation between Pro-Trump and Anti-Trump groups in October.

Santa Monica Detectives served a search warrant at Joseph Krongchana's San Gabriel home on December 6.

"During the search, evidence was recovered, which included chemical spray canisters similar to what was used on the Pier," the SMPD press release said.

Krongchana, 43, was arrested and transported to the Santa Monica jail, according to authorities.

Krongchana is accused of spraying bear repellent into a crowd of anti-Trump protesters when a fight escalated between supporters and protesters of the president on the Santa Monica Pier on Oct. 19. Officers responded to the Santa Monica Pier regarding an assault that occurred when two organized groups, a Pro-Trump group and an Anti-Trump group, confronted each other, the Santa Monica Police Department said. At some point during the confrontation, two people began to spray the crowd with pepper/bear spray, the press release said.

David Dempsey, of Sherman Oaks, was arrested at the scene and later charged with one felony count of use of tear gas and one misdemeanor count of unlawful tear gas activity.

Dempsey was previously convicted between 2006 and 2017 of felonies including second-degree burglary, conspiracy to commit commercial burglary and fleeing a pursuing peace officer's motor vehicle while driving recklessly, the District Attorney's Office said.

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