West Chester U Student Held On $1 Million Bail After Protesting

WEST CHESTER, PA — A West Chester University student arrested during protests over a police shooting in the city of Lancaster is among those being held on $1 million bail.

Activist Taylor Enterline, 20, is one of six whose bail was set at $1 million Tuesday by Magisterial District Judge Bruce Roth.

A West Chester University spokesperson confirmed Enterline is a West Chester University student. She is from Manheim, and has been leading protests there through the summer.

The protesters are each charged with felony arson, riot and vandalism charges, among other protest-related charges. Enterline is charged with one felony count each for the following: arson, with danger of death or bodily injury, institutional vandalism of an educational facility, riot -intent to commit a felony, criminal conspiracy to engage in institutional vandalism and criminal conspiracy engaging in riot -intent to commit felony.

She is also charged with misdemeanors including failure to disperse upon an officer's orders, disorderly conduct engaging in fighting, and obstruction of a highway. Enterline remains in custody, unable to post the $1 million bail.

Pennsylvania Lt. Gov. John Fetterman called the bail a violation of the Eighth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution that states "Excessive bail shall not be required."

Protests broke out in recent days after Lancaster police fatally shot Ricardo Miguel Munoz after he came at officers with a knife Sunday. The man's family confirmed he was mentally ill and they had been seeking help because he was not getting his medication, LNP reported.

Lancaster County's coroner made the determination late Tuesday that Munoz's death by gunshot wounds was a homicide.

Munoz, 27, was scheduled for trial next month on charges he stabbed four people in March 2019.

Social justice activists say Enterline has been leading peaceful protests and was acting as a medic during the protests.

"Taylor Enterline has been standing up for racial justice since 2018, when the Lancaster Police Department brutally tased Sean Williams while he was sitting on the sidewalk. Since then, she has been a community leader and vocal advocate for social justice and police reform, serving as an intern with Lancaster Stands Up, and leading peaceful marches against police brutality, including in Manheim this summer, where she peacefully faced threats from armed militia members. On Sunday night, eyewitnesses reported she and her friend Kathryn Patterson were serving as medics when police charged at them with guns drawn."

Lancaster Stands Up has accused officials of "politically motivated attacks" on protest movements.

"Over the summer, we've seen a pattern of highly unusual arrests and prosecutorial strategies in Lancaster County that appear to indicate local police, prosecutors, and judges are closing ranks and targeting young advocates for social justice who have been calling for police and criminal justice reform. The absurdly high bail amounts indicate that what we're seeing is not a measured pursuit of justice, but a politically motivated attack on the movement for police reform and accountability," the group said Tuesday.