Maumee, Ohio: Accused driver at protest in Va. doesn’t represent us
Residents of this small northwest Ohio city want the rest of the world to know this: The man who stands accused in the death of a counterprotester at a white nationalist march in Charlottesville does not represent them.
Bill Nau, who works at The Cigar Affair on Maumee’s busy main drag, was smoking a cigar Saturday evening when he saw on Fox News that someone had driven into a crowd there, killing one woman and injuring 19. He later learned the suspect was James Alex Fields Jr., 20, identified as being from Maumee.
“None of us know this individual who’s been associated with Maumee,” Nau said. “None of us would ever condone this kind of domestic terrorism.”
With a population of less than 15,000, it’s the kind of place where everyone knows each other, Nau said, and he can speak on behalf of his fellow residents.
Maumee Councilman Dave Kissinger, who recalled seeing Fields’ Dodge Challenger around town because it was a distinctive car, said Maumee is a caring and supportive community.
“It’s a horrific thing that occurred,” he said. “It’s an unfortunate loss of life that we are all mourning for.”
Fields’ last known address is in nearby Monclova Township, in an upscale apartment complex where he lived with his mother, Samantha Bloom, 49. They moved there from Northern Kentucky in the last couple of years for Bloom’s job, and she told the Toledo Blade that her son recently moved out.
The FBI is in town investigating, according to Lucas County Sheriff John Tharp, who also expressed shock.
“The Maumee community is just a strong, middle-class community. Hard workers,” he said. “This is totally unusual. It’s a surprise to everyone.”
Tharp said the Ku Klux Klan protested in Toledo years ago but he knew of no connection with alt-right groups since.
Bloom told media that she thought her son was going to Charlottesville for an event related to President Trump. The Ohio Republican Party said Sunday it had no knowledge of Fields volunteering for any party events.