Protesters arrested while protesting police brutality
The group was taking part in a national event to protest police brutality.
Captain Corliss Cooper told WDEF that officers never intended to arrest any member of the Concerned Citizens for Justice. She said the group’s protest was relatively calm in the beginning.
"They were peaceful the entire time during their walk. They left from the west side of the city. They walked South and we never had any incidents. We were with them the entire time," Cooper said.
But police told WDED the situation changed after several protester stopped walking to talk to news reporters.
"They took that opportunity at that point to just go out into the middle of the street and refused to leave the street," Cooper said.
When it was all said and done, Madison Dillard,20, Michael Heath, 22, Ashlee Henderson, 29 and Janelle Jackson, 34 were taken into custody. All four were charged with inciting a riot and obstructing a highway. Jackson was also charged with resisting arrest. Police say the four put lives in danger when they chose to sit in the middle of the street.
"Main and Market is a highly travelled street. That is a huge intersection. You have 18-wheelers that are driving that intersection; regular motor-vehicles. Traffic was still going when they decided to run out in the middle of the street and sit down in the street," Cooper said.
Fortunately no one was injured.
All four protesters were released from jail Thursday morning.
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