Video Shows St. Pete Protesters Blocking Fire Rescue: Police

ST. PETERSBURG, FL — Protesters are seen blocking the crosswalk, including an emergency vehicle, in front of St. Petersburg Police headquarters in downtown St. Petersburg on a video shared by St. Pete police.

According to police, the police department's communication center has received 413 complaint calls from drivers and residents from the start of protests in late May following the death of George Floyd in Minnesota police custody through July 7 about protesters blocking traffic.

Police said the phone call complaints are separate from the numerous phone calls and emails sent to individual police supervisors and officers and messages received through the department's social media platforms.

The mayor has received 79 phone calls and emails in the last three weeks from residents complaining about the protesters blocking roads, a police news release said. In the last 10 days, City Council has received at least 15 complaints.

Patch reached out to the St. Petersburg Police Department to see if the protesters in the crosswalk were fined, as the police department did recently send out a news release that said police were going to start educating and fining pedestrians, protesters included, who did not follow pedestrian traffic laws.

Patch reported on July 7 that St. Pete police said in a news release that at first, officers will give out flyers to educate and warn pedestrians, including protesters. Citations will follow later this week with a $62.50 fine.

They have not responded back to our questions. Patch will keep you updated on their response.

To see the protesters blocking traffic, click here on the video provided by the St. Petersburg Police Department.