Advertisement Northshore landowner arrested after altercation with Confederate flag vendor Share Shares Copy Link Copy

Tempers flared Friday along Highway 21 in the Washington Parish town of Angie when a black property owner found someone selling Confederate flags and white supremacist merchandise on his land.Before it was all over, it was the property owner who was jailed and the vendor given a misdemeanor summons.Virgil Rayford, 52, admits he was angry when he saw what was happening on his property and without his permission. His attorney said Rayford was well within his rights to take the action he took."I feel like I am the victim right now. That's the way I got treated," Rayford said.When he pulled up to his property on Highway 21 just south of Angie, he found a tent set up and Confederate flags and white supremacist materials being sold. He approached the vendor, identified by the Washington Parish Sheriff's Office as Matthew Barrentine, 37.Rayford said he told Barrentine that he was on his property without permission."The most upsetting part is that he did not want to believe this was my property," Rayford said. "So I am trying to explain to him, this is my property, get off right now.""Mr. Rayford became even angrier, at that point, he flipped one of the tables, which held Confederate flag, headbands and the like, and a shoving match between the two men ensued," said Buddy Spell, Rayford's attorney.Spell said as the two separated, Rayford said Barrentine began walking away. His client, Spell said, was concerned that he may be going after a weapon. Rayford then went to his own vehicle and obtained a weapon of his own and returned to the tent with the gun pointed to the ground."According to Mr. Rayford, at that point, the man became more respectful. He started packing up his merchandise," Spell said.Spell said Rayford was satisfied at that point and went on his way, but apparently, Barrentine filed a complaint with the Sheriff's Office."To the best of our understanding, Mr. Rayford struck him on the side of the head with a pistol, which is a felony, and therefore, we wound up arresting Mr. Rayford with aggravated assault with a firearm," said Chief Deputy Mike Haley."OK, that's what Mr. Barrentine says. My client says that a shoving match ensued," said Spell about Haley's response.Rayford was booked, jailed and bonded out, while Barrentine was issued a misdemeanor summons. Still upset over the incident, Rayford said things got out of hand, but he still feels he is the victim."Some people look at me like maybe I am the racist one, and I am not the racist one, so I am falling victim to someone that shouldn't have been on my property," Rayford said.Efforts to speak to Barrentine were not successful. Because it was determined that the property actually does belong to Rayford, Barrentine was issued a misdemeanor summons for criminal trespassing.