2 Felony Arrests After Officers Punched in Flag-Burning Protest Near GOP Convention

CLEVELAND, OH — A flag-burning protest outside the Republican National Convention led to 17 arrests Wednesday afternoon, including two individuals charged with felonious assault on a police officer. The others were charged with resisting arrest and failure to disperse.

"The individual that actually lit the flag lit himself on fire, and then as we were trying to put him out, and he's trying to push my officer away he actually got a couple other people lit on fire," Police Chief Calvin Williams said.

The chief said their pant legs caught on fire but he did not know if they were treated later for injuries. Police used a fire extinguisher to try to put out the flames. The protesters interfered with police as they tried to put out the flames on the protesters' pants.

The police officers injured during the flag-burning incident were punched and pushed, police said. One was a Cleveland Police supervisor and the other was an Ohio state trooper.

The incident took place at about 4 p.m. near East Fourth Street and Prospect close to the secure entryway for the convention area.

• Republican Convention Blog, Day 3: 2 Cops Hurt in Flag Burning; 17 Arrests | 'Green Eggs and Ham': Ted Cruz | Speechwriter Confesses | $8,000 for Escort 'Services Rendered'

Williams said police did not intervene in the flag-burning protest until the protesters pants caught on fire, pointing out that legally protesters have the right to burn the flag as long as they are not a danger to others while doing so or inciting violence.

"It's not against the law," he said.

A group called Revolutionary Communists USA planned the flag burning, and chanted "America Was Never Great" as they protested.

No members of the media were taken into custody, police said. Some of the people arrested or dispersed from the scene were counter-demonstrators who were trying to attack the flag burners.

The counter-protesters were an eclectic mix of Bikers for Trump and convention goers who shouted "USA" at the flag burners. Police circled them to keep the groups separated. Mounted officers were at the scene, too. As the situation grew tense, more officers were rushed to the scene in case the situation spun out of control.

But in less than an hour, the block was cleared.

Police did not have names of those arrested available. They will be arraigned in 24 to 48 hours.

The chief said the rest of the day proved to be relatively quiet.

"So far, so good," Williams said.

The chief said the department is receiving dozens of calls each day from residents reporting suspicious activity.

The chief also confirmed he received one report of bottles confiscated. A reporter asked if the bottles were filled with urine, but the chief said he did not know.

"We've confiscated everything from gas masks to tent stakes to metal screws," Williams said. "Almost every prohibited item, we've confiscated."

The chief said there are more news media at the protests than demonstrators.