Several Arrested At Police Brutality Protest: Phoenix Police

PHOENIX — Several protesters were arrested Sunday evening for "criminal activity" at a demonstration against police brutality, the Phoenix Police Department said. The protest took place on the sixth anniversary of Michael Brown's death at the hands of police officers in Ferguson, Missouri.

According to a Twitter thread from Arizona Republic reporter Audrey Jensen, the protesters gathered in downtown Phoenix and marched from the Arizona State Capitol to Phoenix police headquarters. They then walked up to and pushed past barricades that were erected in May when protests began after the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis. Police in riot gear emerged from inside the building and declared an unlawful assembly about 30 minutes after protesters arrived.

Police officers then formed a line with shields to protect the building from unauthorized entry, according to a statement from Sgt. Maggie Cox, a police spokesperson.

"At this time, some demonstrators began retrieving items from backpacks on the ground across the street and began throwing items at officers and assaulting officers," Cox said. "When officers attempted to arrest the violators, other members of the crowd attempted to hinder the officers from making the arrests."

Many in the crowd dispersed after pepper spray and other "less lethal" chemical agents were deployed, but some stayed behind to continue the protest. Eight people were arrested, according to Cox's statement.

Of the arrests, all were charged with rioting and an unlawful assembly; several were charged with aggravated assault on a police officer; and all but one were charged with criminal trespassing. The demonstrators were arrested and booked into the Maricopa County Jail.

The last protest in the Valley that ended in arrests occurred on July 27 in Tempe.