DENVER — A woman accused of driving into a protestor with her vehicle near the state capitol last year was found not guilty of assault Friday, according to her defense team.
A jury did find Jennifer Watson, 37, guilty of a misdemeanor reckless driving charge.
The incident, which was caught on video, happened May 28, 2020 near the intersection off Colfax Avenue and Broadway. Video shows several people surrounding her SUV and eventually when she drives off, her car veering to the right, knocking a man to the ground.
> Video above: Woman accused of hitting protester with vehicle in incident captured on video faces misdemeanor charges
Watson's attorney, Ryan Brackley, told 9Wants to Know she was scared for her safety.
Watson was apparently caught in a traffic jam because of a protest in Denver over the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis.
Watson's attorney said she was simply trying to get home when she was "diverted" by protesters near the state capitol.
"She was alone in her car with her dog when she was surrounded by people who began kicking and hitting her car and taunting and yelling at her," Brackley told 9Wants to Know. "While stopped, Mr. Max Bailey jumped up onto the hood of her car and her windshield was smashed in two places. She was fearful for her safety."
The who man climbed onto her hood – Max Bailey, 22, later told 9NEWS he jumped onto the car because he feared being run over.
“The reason I was in front of the car was to make sure everyone was safe and to get this lady to stop from running over protesters,” Bailey told 9NEWS the day after the incident. “The reason I got on top of the car was because she accelerated into me and I’m not going to lie down and let somebody run over me.”
> Top stories curated daily just for you! Sign up for the 9NEWSLETTER to get can’t-miss stories, Next and Broncos content, weather and more delivered right to your inbox.