A former martial arts instructor, Timothy Allen Wegert, 33, was filmed attempting a spinning kick at a police officer during an arrest in Virginia Beach at around 2.20am on 5 July, over the Fourth of July weekend. The officer ducked the kick and tackled him, and three further officers helped take him into custody. The footage went viral, having been viewed more than 167,000 times, drawing attention partly because of Wegert's background as a decorated martial artist.

Wegert was identified by a family friend, Bill Peters, as the former chief executive and master instructor of the UpLevel Martial Arts academy in Charlottesville, and reportedly a three-time world champion. Peters said Wegert had been dismissed as CEO in 2021 over conduct outside the company, which allegedly included multiple assaults. Wegert has been charged with felony assault on a law enforcement officer, plus misdemeanour counts of simple assault, disorderly conduct and two counts of obstruction of justice.