KENOSHA, Wis. (KMOX) - The actions of a former Ferguson Police officer outside the trial of Kyle Rittenhouse in Wisconsin have gone viral. The man who calls himself "Maserati Mike" has been identified as Jesse Kline, a former cop in St. Louis County.
Kline was fired by the Ferguson department in 2018 after he was charged with assault and stalking. Prosecutors say he attacked his former roommate and her boyfriend in Maplewood, according to reports. The charges were dropped due to lack of cooperation by the witness.
He became a viral character in the protests outside the Kenosha County Courthouse as he was carrying a long rifle while wearing a tactical vest and claiming that Black Lives Matter protesters are "terrorists" while yelling into a bullhorn. Video shows Kenosha County sheriff's deputies confronting him and he was asked to leave the area because he didn't have a concealed carry license and was within 1,000 feet of a school:
Police questioned man for carrying a rifle outside Kenosha court, where Kyle Rittenhouse trial is being conducted. Police asked the man to remove the gun as officers said he was within 1000 feet of a school. pic.twitter.com/OElgAExIDP
— 🇺🇸 💥𝘗𝘢𝘵𝘳𝘪𝘰𝘵 24/7💥 🇺🇸 (@FlipItRed2022) November 17, 2021
Kline confirmed his identity to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel after he'd been seen outside the courthouse for several days.
(Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images)
He also showed up with a dog one day and what appeared to be a gun case. He was seen on video pulling a large adult toy out of the case near the courthouse.
Kline was hired by Ferguson in 2015 and was a member of the K-9 division in his time with the department.
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