Police: Virginia Man Tried to Incite Riot at Confederate Flag Rally

A Virginia man is accused of traveling to South Carolina during a Confederate flag rally with the purpose of inciting a riot, according to Richland County Sheriff Leon Lott.

Stephen Loughman, 25, of Virginia, has been charged with breach of peace during protests outside the South Carolina State House in Columbia.

Lott claims Loughman traveled to South Carolina from Virginia specifically to instigate violence at the July 18 protest over the Confederate flag’s removal from the State House grounds. The event was promoted heavily as a KKK rally.

A Sheriff’s Office release alleges Loughman arrived at the rally “with the intent to instill violence and hate among the other attendees with the ultimate goal of enticing riots to break out.”

A sheriff’s deputy reportedly witnessed Loughman “willfully and unlawfully yelling profanity at the crowds and attempting to charge at traffic in the roadways.”

During the incident Loughman dropped his cell phone, and upon investigating the incident, he was identified as one of the suspects causing a disturbance.

Loughman reportedly returned to Virginia after the protests, only to return to Richland County one week later, where he was arrested July 27.

Sheriff Lott alleges that Loughman identifies with an anti-government group and is no rookie at traveling to other states to cause trouble.