Testimony in the jury trial for a man accused of pepper spraying the owner of a Marine City business wrapped up Wednesday, June 24.
Ian Pfister, 49, testified in his own defense, telling the jury he feared for his safety when the owner of Zimmerman’s Meat Market exited the store, reportedly to approach a police officer about Pfister’s presence outside his business.
Pfister said it appeared to him that Richard Hobig, the business owner, was coming at him and looking directly toward him when Pfister told him to stay back.
“I had to make a split second decision, and I chose to do it,” Pfister said.
Pfister has been charged with improper use of a self-defense spray and aggravated assault after he used a can of pepper spray he said he bought from Target on Hobig during a confrontation on Jan. 6, 2026.
The incident began when Pfister and two others were seen around town recording local businesses, leading to a slew of 911 calls to the Marine City Police Department.
Pfister runs a YouTube channel called Welcome to this World Media, which says it aims to educate the public on First Amendment rights. Many of the videos depict Pfister and his colleagues arguing with “Karens” and “Darrens” who become angry at being recorded.
Marine City police officer Jim Vandermeulen testified that he had been watching the trio from his patrol vehicle. He told the jury that despite the public concern, Pfister and the others were not doing anything illegal, so he did not intervene initially. That changed when he responded to a call from Hobig’s daughter and learned Hobig had been pepper-sprayed.
Pamela Pfister, Ian Pfister’s wife, testified that they visited Marine City after hearing reports of the incident in December in which a St. Clair County Sheriff’s Office deputy shot and killed a dog at the St. Clair County Animal Shelter.
During Ian Pfister’s cross examination, St. Clair County Senior Assistant Prosecutor Paul Soderberg portrayed the defendant as a content creator trying to provoke people to make money off of their reactions.
Soderberg also asked Pfister about Hobig’s behavior, noting that his arms weren’t raised and he made no verbal threat, though Hobig admitted in his own testimony he told police the situation could become violent.
Pfister cited the way Hobig was walking and looking at him in explaining why he felt threatened.
“I see that he’s coming out and I don’t know what he’s going to do at that point, so I’d rather be safe than sorry,” Pfister said.
“You didn’t know what he was going to do?” Soderberg repeated.
“Not at that point, no,” Pfister said.
Defense attorney Kenneth Karam asked Pfister if his videos of the incident on YouTube and Facebook, which had a combined viewership of around 400,000, had made him a lot of money. Pfister said it was not more than a typical video.
The trial is set to continue Thursday, June 25 with closing arguments at 8:30 a.m., followed by jury deliberation.
Pfister faces up to two years in jail if convicted.
Contact Johnathan Hogan at jhogan@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Port Huron Times Herald: YouTuber testifies in Marine City pepper spray trial
Reporting by Johnathan Hogan, Port Huron Times Herald / Port Huron Times Herald
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Johnathan Hogan, Port Huron Times Herald | USA TODAY Network
