Aurora Police Chief Shares More Information About Student Walkouts Ending In 3 Arrests

AURORA, IL — Aurora Police Chief Matt Thomas shared a second statement Wednesday related to Monday's student walkouts that led to the arrest of three boys: "Brief video clips [circulating online] do not capture the full sequence of events."

In a letter shared at 6:30 p.m. on Facebook, Thomas discussed "the progression of events that ultimately led to [Tuesday] night's protest at Simmons Park."

Three East Aurora High School students, including one who punched a police officer, were arrested Monday during a 1,500-person walkout to oppose recent U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement activity, Patch reported. The three boys were charged with improper walking in the roadway, obstructing and resisting a peace officer, according to police, who said one of the boys was also charged with aggravated battery to an officer.

RELATED: 3 Students Arrested During 1,500-Person Walkout In Aurora: Police

"Videos currently circulating publicly represent only a brief excerpt from a nearly three-hour-long incident," he said. "While the initial intent of the walkout was to be a peaceful protest — an activity we fully respect and recognize as a protected form of expression — the situation later escalated in ways that created public safety concerns."

Thomas said officers made repeated attempts to safely facilitate the protest and gain voluntary compliance from students when they entered and remained in active roadways. Police also noticed rocks and water bottles being thrown at squad cars, altercations breaking out among students, intimidation of passing drivers, and reckless driving happening close to the gathered students, according to authorities, who advised students that enforcement actions would follow if the behavior continued.

An officer approached two people who had been identified as the primary contributors to the "unsafe and unlawful behavior," Thomas said. Despite verbal direction, he said the encounter quickly escalated when the boys pulled away and actively attempted to evade the officer, prompting more police to come to that officer's assistance.

"At that point, enforcement action was determined to be necessary to restore safety and prevent further harm," Thomas wrote in the statement. "These decisions were not made lightly and were based on the totality of circumstances unfolding over an extended period of time. Officers coordinated a measured response focused on identifying individuals contributing to the unlawful behavior and issuing local ordinance citations in an effort to gain compliance and stabilize the situation."

Videos shared online show an officer tackling one of the people who appeared to be the complainant. Thomas explained officers encountered "active and ongoing resistance" as they attempted to place the boys in custody.

"No additional force beyond the takedown was used to complete the arrests despite continued active resistance from those involved," Thomas said.

A third person then came and punched an officer in the head while the officer was attempting to take another person into custody, according to Thomas. The student was treated for a hand injury, and the officer was taken to a local hospital for treatment, which required six staples. Several other officers were also injured and given medical attention.

"It is important to note we had two other student walkouts that same day at different high schools," Thomas said. "In those instances, students remained on the sidewalks, complied with officer direction, and the events were managed safely with only a couple of officers assigned to monitor each gathering. There were no enforcement issues."

Thomas said more than 20 officers were required to manage traffic, block intersections, anticipate crowd movement and respond to disturbances.

The incident will be reviewed to "ensure actions taken were consistent with department policy, training, and the law," the chief said.

"We appreciate that [Tuesday] night's gathering concluded without further incident and thank those who demonstrated peacefully and responsibly, while helping to maintain a safe environment," Thomas concluded. "We encourage all members of our community — especially our young people — to continue expressing their voices in ways that are peaceful, lawful, and respectful of others."