(14 Aug 2017) Charlottesville Police Chief Al Thomas told a news conference Monday that his department was hoping for "a peaceful event," at Saturday's rally.
Thomas told reporters that a hotline was being set up to enable people to report assaults and other criminal activity that may have occurred.
He also said "alt-right" rally attendees had failed to follow an agreed-upon plan on entering Emancipation Park.
The attendees were gathering to protest plans to remove a Confederate statue.
The event also drew counter-protesters - and Thomas said the crowds became more aggressive and "mutually engaged combatants" became more violent.
When asked whether he had any regrets, he said: "Absolutely I have regrets. We lost three lives this weekend."
He was referring to 32-year-old Heather Heyer, who died after a car police say was driven by James Alex Fields Jr. rammed into a crowd of counter-protesters.
Two Virginia State Police officers also died when their helicopter, which was dispatched to the area, crashed just outside of Charlottesville.
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