The driver who hit a protester in May in a widely seen video has been charged

Jennifer Watson is charged with one count of assault and one count of reckless driving.
2 min. read
Images from a cell phone video posted by Twitter user bellers03.

A woman faces charges after the Denver District Attorney's Office said she was the driver in a widely-circulated video showing her strike a protester with her car in May near downtown Denver.

Jennifer Watson, 37, is charged with one count of assault in the third degree for knowingly or recklessly causing bodily injury to a protester and one count of reckless driving.

The hit-and-run incident happened on May 28, the first day of local protests against police violence and racism prompted by the death of George Floyd. The demonstrations continued for weeks, morphing into a movement that's led to both statewide and local policy changes.

Despite public outcry, Denver police provided few updates on the case as it progressed. Denver Police Chief Paul Pazen said on June 9 that the department was making "significant progress." A month after that, on July 7, police said they had submitted their investigation to the DA's office.

Footage of the incident made the rounds on Twitter. The man who was struck, 22-year-old Max Bailey, told 9News in May he mounted the hood to avoid being run over. Bailey said he spoke to Denver police about the incident.

This is a developing story and will be updated.

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