FORMER MARTIAL ARTS INSTRUCTOR CHARGED AFTER VIRAL VIRGINIA BEACH ARREST VIDEO
VIRGINIA BEACH, Virginia — A former martial arts instructor and fourth-degree black belt has been charged with felony assault on a law enforcement officer after a viral video appeared to show him attempting a spinning heel kick at a Virginia Beach police officer during an arrest over the Fourth of July weekend.
According to the Virginia Beach Police Department, officers were flagged down around 2:20 a.m. on Sunday, July 5, after receiving a report of an assault in the 1300 block of Atlantic Avenue near the Oceanfront.
Police identified the man in the video as 33-year-old Timothy Allen Wegert of Monroe, Virginia. The footage shows an officer running toward Wegert, who appears to attempt a spinning heel kick before missing. The officer then tackles Wegert to the ground as several other officers assist with the arrest.
Authorities charged Wegert with felony assault on a law enforcement officer, along with misdemeanor counts of simple assault, disorderly conduct, and two counts of obstruction of justice. Police have not released additional details about what led to the confrontation, and the investigation remains ongoing.
According to Bill Peters, owner of an UpLevel Martial Arts location in Charlottesville and a longtime family friend, Wegert previously served as the company’s CEO and master instructor before being fired in 2021 for conduct outside the business. Peters said Wegert is a three-time world martial arts champion and a fourth-degree black belt who trained with the organization since childhood.
Peters also said Wegert had recently been teaching dance.
Earlier that evening, video recorded near Mahi’s Oceanfront Restaurant appeared to show Wegert dancing and performing acrobatic martial arts-style movements while wearing the same distinctive black-and-white striped pants seen in the arrest video.
Witness Casey Bunce told local media that Wegert appeared friendly during their interaction, describing him as outgoing and saying he did not appear aggressive at the time they met.
Authorities have not announced a court date, and the investigation remains active.
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