General Michael Flynn was keynote speaker at Rock the Red conference in Greenville, SC.

A two day gathering of conservatives from across the country gathered for the ‘Rock the Red’ Convention held in Greenville, SC this past weekend. General Michael Flynn was the concluding speaker of the conference on Saturday night of the event. A packed house eagerly sat on the edge of their chair as the popular Flynn gave his final remarks.

Just after hearing those closing remarks of General Flynn’s speech is when the convention had an unexpected and unauthorized infiltrator disrupt the private event. The agitator has been identified as Timothy Matthew McDaniel, a 42 year old Clemson engineering graduate from Seneca. McDaniel stood up in front of the audience of around 400 and offered a “toast” to General Flynn. At that point the carefully choreographed convention had Flynn warily exiting stage left, because no “toast” was scheduled.

General Michael Flynn was a keynote speaker at Rock the Red conference in Greenville, SC.

McDaniel began his “toast” stating that “General Flynn is the biggest scumbag traitor in the history of this country next to Donald Trump.” The next part of his speech included “I am placing traitor Flynn under citizen’s arrest for treason and for attempting to overthrow the United States government…”

Before he could further disrupt the gathering several attendees attempted to grab the microphone away from him. Local businessman and attendee Jeff Magg said, “I was right by him and grabbed the paper from his hands he was reading from after Chad [Caton] restrained him.”

Magg continued, “the guy said he was with Antifa“. Magg also said the agitator “was an obvious threat as he tried to hit Chad many times.” He added that “Chad only retaliated”.

“When he began to speak I started looking around for security,” said Caton. As the words sunk in several men started toward the agitator to remove the microphone from him. As they did he resisted and twisted away. Caton was the third man to enter the fray, and stepped in taking control of the situation.

Caton is a 45 year old U.S. Navy veteran, more recently he’s been a body guard and had a popular Myrtle Beach radio program called “I’m Fired Up”. To his good fortune he has the physique of a body builder and pro-football lineman intertwined: he is a big, strong man with powerful hands. When the agitator escaped the others, Caton latched onto him to restrain his movement so he couldn’t hurt anyone.

The Navy vet said he knew that there were “no toasts when they turn on the lights.” So, when McDaniel proposed the toast Caton said he knew “something wasn’t right.” Caton commented, that’s when “I took a full risk assessment.”

“This guy was a complete nutcase and was yelling very hateful things toward MAGA people,” said Magg. He added that McDaniel continued spewing hatred “even while waiting for the cops.”

It is well known that General Flynn travels around the country speaking at various groups and conventions. During that time he, and others who have supported former President Trump, have had various assaults, threats, including death threats, against their lives over the past four years due to that stand.

The toast was “unscripted” by the ‘Rock the Red’ schedule, and it immediately raised suspicions of a terrorist infiltration with potential violence. Caton said that when the man called Flynn a “traitor” he knew at that point “it was a problem” where he needed to be part of the solution.

Caton said he didn’t know if the man had a gun or a bomb, but he said that  “I needed to do something… so I acted”.

It was later discovered McDaniel had a prepared ‘manifesto’. Caton commented that “they [terrorists] all have one”. At least two witnesses heard McDaniel claim to be part of Antifa.

“I didn’t know if he would throw paint on the General, acid in his face, or anything else.” — Chad Caton

Caton is a 45 year old veteran of the Navy Seabee’s. He said his quick reactions to the potential threat were a result of training and preparation. Those quick reactions may have prevented General Flynn or attendees from being injured, or worse.

Caton said he took control of the man, grabbed him by the ‘scruff of the neck’ and was escorting him toward the exit in the back of the room. “That’s when the he twisted around” said witnesses, “hitting Caton in the jaw”. Witnesses say he was quickly taken to the ground.

Chad Caton

The former Seabee said “I told him to pick up his glasses before they got broke.” He added that “I protected him once I had control of him, and asked people not to touch him.”

The aspect of terrorism is real in our world today especially considering the violent Communism spreading across the country with revolutionary groups like Antifa and Black Lives Matter. As close as Charleston, SC, Antifa and BLM have accosted people and property for over a year while they spread their Communist fear and violence.

Caton said “I didn’t know if he would throw paint on the General, acid in his face, or anything else.”

Caton transferred McDaniel over to Frank Wrennall, a retired police officer from the UK and the US. Wrennal and a private security officer held the intruder until Greenville police arrived and took him to jail.

Police who arrived on the scene questioned Caton and others involved in the incident. The suspect was loud and boisterous prior to police arrival and arresting the agitator.

“I was willing to give my life.” — Chad Caton

“We’re trained to eliminate the threat,” commented Caton. He continued “that’s why we train, so we can do it in the dark.” He said that he “just reacted” to the event.

Timothy Matthew McDaniel was arrested for Disorderly Conduct after disrupting the Rock the Red event in Greenville, SC.

It was reported that security at the event discovered two men hanging around a rear loading dock who fled the scene when approached. Security also cleared the parking lot of any people without business at the hotel.

At least two news outlets have claimed that Caton “body slammed” McDaniel. This is an unfortunate description which is utterly false, and has led to others inaccurately describing what really happened. Witnesses at the event said that the man was not “body slammed” and Greenville police refused to open an investigation on McDaniel’s allegations of assault by being “body slammed”.

When I asked him, Caton said, “I didn’t body slam him”. That fact is apparent when one looks at video captured from the scene. This next video gives greater detail of the event.

I happened to be at the conference and spoke to many witnesses to confirm what had happened. What was described as a “body slam” was probably the agitator tripping over the leg of Caton getting him under control while McDaniel was trying to break his grip on him. Witnesses say the man later ‘swung a weapon’ at Caton hitting him in the jaw. Whether he did swing a weapon or not, the police report said he did not have a weapon.

Event organizer Pressley Stutts said the agitator McDaniel “had what appeared to be a martial arts weapon in his possession.” He added that the infiltrator “was quickly subdued by attendees and was eventually taken to the floor after he repeatedly tried to slither his way out of their grasp.”

Tracy Beanz

Popular Myrtle Beach podcaster Tracy Beanz, who spoke at the Rock the Red event, released a statement along with Jeremy Halpin, and Roger Slagle, which said the attendees became “very angry” at the instigator because of his intrusion, cursing, and disruptive behavior. These said that the “perpetrator was in possession of a weapon…” and “witnesses heard the man self identify as Antifa.”

There was a “printed statement that included a threat stating the man had the intention of performing a “citizens arrest” on General Michael Flynn,” said Beanz. She also corroborated that “hotel security had identified another individual waiting near the kitchen exit door where high profile guests would typically exit a venue for security reasons.”

Police said that since the man had initiated a threat by calling for a citizens arrest, and claimed treason against Flynn, which is punishable by death, Caton’s actions were prudent, perhaps preventative as the charges could evoke a variety of responses or attacks. The man was accused of wielding a blackjack, sometimes called a “slimjim”, which is considered a weapon. Although witnesses say they saw a weapon, none was found in his possession when arrested.

Stutts said, Caton’s “split second action diffused a potentially volatile, and perhaps deadly, situation.” He continued that “If the individual had a gun, the situation could have turned deadly.”

“He was not wearing an ammo vest, and luckily,” said Caton, “a machine gun didn’t fall out of his shirt.” The Navy veteran said that “if he had had a weapon, I was willing to give my life.”

Caton said the Flynn family has reached out to him and expressed their thanks for risking his life in defense of the General.

Event organizer Stutts said we must be reminded that “conservative citizens across the country, including General Flynn, are under constant daily threats and attacks.” He added “this incident reminds us that we must remain vigilant in the face of hatred and anger.”

EDITED 6-15-21 17:56pm.

Michael Reed is Editor and Publisher of The Standard newspaper, print and online, and TheStandardSC YouTube channel where many video reports may be found. Please share freely and donate to The Standard on this page to assure the continued availability of news that is too often ignored by the dominant media.

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