Vermont Cop Was Allegedly Watching Matt Walsh Vide...

A police officer in Vermont who’s been charged with gross negligent conduct after he struck and killed a bicycle owner along with his police cruiser was taking part in a YouTube video in his squad automobile on the time of the crash, based on a report from NBC 5. That video was of an occasion held by infamous anti-trans bigot Matt Walsh, based on the Vermont information outlet VT Digger, which cites courtroom paperwork.

Kyle Kapitanski, a 41-year-old police sergeant in Shelburne, has been charged with “gross negligent operation with loss of life ensuing from a deadly crash” when he hit bicycle owner Sean Hayes late final yr, based on NBC 5. Kapitanski was allegedly driving 5 miles over the velocity restrict and was watching YouTube movies on his department-issued iPad when the collision occurred, based on NBC 5.

The truth that Kapitanksi was watching YouTube was solely found due to a physique cam, based on courtroom paperwork reviewed by NBC 5. That bodycam footage has not been launched publicly, although it reportedly didn’t seize the crash, solely the exercise contained in the cruiser when Kapitanksi was watching YouTube.

Hayes, 38, had dismounted his bicycle and was standing within the roadway close to the curb when he was struck on Nov. 14, 2024, based on NBC 5. He died on the scene of the crash from “blunt drive trauma to the top,” based on an post-mortem report seen by VT Digger.

The YouTube video Kapitanski was watching simply earlier than the crash had the title, “Trans girl CONFRONTING Matt Walsh takes UNEXPECTED flip,” based on VT Digger, which additionally notes that courtroom paperwork declare there was “no proof of person interplay” with the movies. It’s not clear what different movies might have been seen earlier than the crash, however YouTube internet addresses had been logged from 2:29 a.m. to 2:40 a.m. The Matt Walsh video is simply a few minute lengthy.

Matt Walsh has established himself as one of the crucial virulently anti-trans bigots within the U.S. and often posts atrocious issues on-line concerning the trans group. Walsh calls himself a “theocratic fascist” in his bio on X, one thing that he’ll generally downplay as a joke. However within the age of Trump, everyone knows how “jokes” are sometimes cowl for earnestly fascist beliefs.

Kapitanski’s lawyer, David Sleigh, is difficult the felony cost and desires to current the dearth of interplay with the YouTube video as proof of one thing essential.

“The affidavit, as close to as I can see it, says that Kyle was going perhaps 5 miles over the velocity restrict, that his pc was taking part in some kind of video, however the officer says that their IT man says there doesn’t seem like any interplay with the pc within the 11 minutes that matter,” Sleigh mentioned, based on VT Digger.

An e-mail to Kapitanski’s attorneys wasn’t instantly returned. Gizmodo will replace this put up if we hear again.