CHARLOTTE — Federal prosecutors and defense teams rested their cases on the second day of a trial against William Donovan Stanley and Heather Murrow, who are accused of assaulting federal officers and obstruction.
The charges stem from a November protest outside the Department of Homeland Security office on Tyvola Centre Drive in Charlotte.
The demonstration occurred during Operation Charlotte’s Web, a week-long immigration enforcement campaign conducted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents.
Federal authorities allege Stanley and Murrow obstructed the entrance to federal property, disrupted federal workers, and ignored orders during a protest outside the building.
Government prosecutors maintained that the defendants are being charged for their physical actions rather than for exercising their right to protest.
Defense attorneys argued that the entryway and parking lot were open to the public and pointed out that no-trespassing signs were not placed near the entrance.
During cross-examination, a deportation officer testifying for the prosecution acknowledged that he could not read the signs from the entryway.
Defense lawyers also presented video evidence recorded during the arrest to highlight discrepancies in officer testimony.
After a deportation officer testified that he had ordered Stanley to get on the ground, defense counsel played footage from the scene and asked if the command could be heard on the recording.
The deportation officer admitted it was not audible on the video. “I didn’t hear it, but I know I said it,” the deportation officer testified.
Defense attorneys further pointed to inconsistencies between statements arresting officers provided to the FBI during the investigation and what was ultimately recorded in official FBI reports.
Operation Charlotte’s Web was conducted as a week-long enforcement campaign by ICE agents.
Federal authorities initially reported that officers detained 370 people during the operation before later increasing the official total to 425 individuals.
Closing arguments in the trial are scheduled for tomorrow, after which the case will be submitted to the jury for deliberation.