The viral clip that shows a shirtless man who wore stripes and tried to execute a spin heel kick move against a Virginia Beach police officer but failed in his attempt and was quickly tacked down on the beach by the officer is sweeping the internet as it gains millions of viewers and memes about movie moves versus reality.
At about 2:20 a.m., on the morning of July 5, 2026, Virginia Beach police officers were called to an assault complaint reported at the 1300 block of Atlantic Avenue, located at the Oceanfront area. According to police, officers were signaled down after seeing Timothy Allen Wegert, age 33. Wegert, wearing black-and-white striped pants, squared up and attempted what appeared to be a spinning heel kick. The kick missed. The officer immediately tackled him, with three additional officers assisting in subduing and handcuffing Wegert near the water’s edge. No injuries were reported.
Wegert, of Monroe, Virginia, near Lynchburg, is a former CEO and master instructor at UpLevel Martial Arts in Charlottesville. He trained there since childhood and holds credentials as a fourth-degree black belt.
“Wegert was fired as CEO in 2021 for his conduct outside of the business, which he said included multiple assaults,”
Said Bill Peters, a family friend and current owner of the UpLevel location, per reporting by The Virginian-Pilot. More recently, Wegert had been teaching dance. Earlier on July 4, witnesses described him performing acrobatic dance mixed with martial arts-style moves at a venue on Atlantic Avenue, with one calling him an “outgoing character” who seemed non-aggressive.
Virginia Beach police confirmed Wegert as the man in the viral video. The charges against him include a felony for assaulting a police officer and three other misdemeanor charges of simple assault, disorderly conduct, and obstruction of justice. The investigation remains ongoing, and the precise events leading to the initial assault report have not been fully detailed publicly.
This viral video spread quickly because of the sharp contrast that existed between the highly choreographed expectation of martial arts and the quick and effective response of the police force. In the online comments, people laughed about the attempt and joked about the dangers of combining cockiness and physical altercations. Users pointed out that the “cinematic” nature of the move made Wegert susceptible to the quick tackle.
Wegert is currently still in custody. The legal process, rather than the viral video, will decide his fate as the investigation goes on. The law in Virginia takes assaults against police officers very seriously.
Even though this viral video shows a situation that has become wildly popular on the internet for its contrast between trained moves and real life, the authorities will be interested only in the facts.
