Police have arrested two women who allegedly beat a Democratic state senator from Milwaukee during a protest at the State Capitol in June.
Samantha Hamer, 26, and Kerida O’Reilly, 33, turned themselves into law enforcement on Monday.
Each face potential charges of substantial battery – party to a crime, and robbery with use of force – party to a crime, according to a Madison Police incident report.
Police say they are still trying to identify other attackers.
The following is from the Madison Police report last month:
The MPD has now been able to make contact with a state politician who was attacked and beaten by an angry mob late Tuesday night, or early Wednesday morning. The victim’s name has been widely reported by media, but it is the protocol of the MPD not to identify crime victims.
The politician said he was walking to the State Capitol around midnight when he saw a group of demonstrators in the street. He decided to use his phone to capture what was happening. As he did, three people rushed toward him, saying something about his phone. One knocked it out of his hand. He said he was then sucker punched. He fell to the ground and was battered by several people.
A media member, who witnessed the assault, told police approximately ten people punched and kicked the politician while he was on the ground and as the politician tried to explain that he is an ally.
When the beating stopped, the politician tried to dialogue with his attackers, explaining who he was, and asking for his phone and glasses to be returned. They were, and someone identifying herself as a nurse came to his aid.
Feeling “lightheaded, stunned and dazed” he next stumbled toward the State Capitol, where he laid down on the grass.
He made contact with Capitol Police who called for an emergency medical response. Paramedics treated the politician, but he declined to go to a hospital.
Capitol Police escorted him into the Capitol, and told him not to leave the building because of property damage and unruly behavior that was continuing to take place outside.
The politician later sought medical help at a hospital. He told the MPD he was still feeling pain in his neck, arms, ribs, and head.