Akron police arrest 2 men, 1 woman Friday in protests over Jayland Walker's death
Three people were arrested Friday night in downtown Akron during protests over the police shooting death of Jayland Walker.
Protesters drove a caravan of dozens of cars through different parts of the city to draw attention to the June 27 incident when officers shot Walker 46 times after he fled a traffic stop.
The caravan formed at about 7:30 p.m. near Inman Street and Archwood Avenue, according to police, who said the protesters blocked intersections as they moved through the city. The group traveled to a neighborhood in Kenmore, then to Lock 3 and around Main Street, according to police Lt. Michael Miller.
"Members of the group reportedly began chanting and intentionally disturbing citizens who were downtown to enjoy the entertainment at various venues," Miller said in a news release.
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Protesters later demonstrated near the Akron Police Department on South High Street, moving south to the Polsky Building. A vehicle trying to leave the Polsky parking deck collided with a protester's vehicle at the site, police said. Protesters said on social media that the driver of the exiting vehicle intentionally slammed into them; police say the person was attempting to get out of the parking deck.
At this point, police went in to break up the protest "after they ignored multiple orders to disperse," Miller said.
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The names of those arrested — two men and a woman who were all charged with riot, misconduct at an emergency and failure to disperse — were not immediately available.
Miller said they would be arraigned in the Akron Municipal Court. It was unclear if a date for their arraignment had been set.
Reporter April Helms can be reached at ahelms@thebeaconjournal.com
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Akron police arrest 3 during protests over Jayland Walker shooting
