What was a largely peaceful demonstration turned violent Friday night in Brooklyn Center when protesters defied dispersal orders, pelted police with rocks and other objects, and tried to breach a fence surrounding the city's police station.
It was the sixth consecutive night of protests in the northwest suburb of the Twin Cities where Daunte Wright was shot and killed by a police officer during a traffic stop on April 11.
After the unrest began, an emergency 11:00 p.m. curfew was imposed.
Related
The show of force and curfew represented a reversal of Brooklyn Center Mayor Mike Elliott's earlier statement to take a "different approach."
"This is a night that should have been without Daunte Wright," said Minnesota public safety commissioner John Harrington during a late-night news conference headed by Operation Safety Net officials.
"Tearing down a fence, coming armed to a protest is not, in my mind, befitting of peaceful protests," he said. "It is not befitting groups that are there to recognize the tragedy of the loss of Daunte Wright."
WCCO's Mark Freie, who's been in Brooklyn Center much of the week covering the protests, was nearly corralled by police when the arrests were being made.
Among those that were detained, including ordered to lay on the ground for a short period, were members of WCCO television's news crew covering the demonstration and reporters from the StarTribune newspaper.
This came after a federal judge issued a temporary restraining order barring the arrests of journalists covering the unrest in Minnesota.
The demonstration had a more positive air early on, but as night fell the crowd grew to more than 1,000 people.
After attempts to breach the fence, police that had stood away from the barrier fired flash-bangs and moved in to make arrests.
Officers in riot gear were also pelted with ojbect by the few demonstrators who defied dispersal orders.
"Violence is not going to be tolerated by myself or this operation," said Hennepin County sheriff Dave Hutchinson. "We need to grieve, we don't need to have more problems with destruction and deputies hurt, officers hurt."
Law enforcement say they saw protesters wearing helmets, gas masks, and other tactical gear while carrying baseball bats and other items.
LISTEN on the Audacy App
Sign Up and Follow Audacy
Facebook | Twitter | Instagram