LYNDEN, Wash. -- A Hispanic man who said it was "unfair" that he got kicked out of the Northwest Washington State Fair was in violation of the fair's new anti-gang policy, according to the Whatcom County Sheriff.

David Veliz from Mount Vernon told the "Bellingham Herald" he was visiting the fair with his wife and three kids when a deputy asked him to leave.

Sheriff Bill Elfo says Veliz forgot to mention that he was also at the fair with an active gang member.



Veliz has a long criminal history, and was sentenced to prison on various charges in 2010.

Elfo says Veliz has gang tattoos and still associates with gang members.

He says the accusations of racial profiling are not credible, and no complaints of racial profiling at the fair have been reported to authorities.

A group called "Voices for Equality" is planning a march this afternoon in Lynden to protest the security policy at the fair.