Charlotte Police Arrest 25, Recover 4 Firearms During Protests

CHARLOTTE, NC — Charlotte police arrested 25 protesters and confiscated four firearms during a night of street violence and robbery attempts Sunday, according to a report released by Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department Monday afternoon.

Sunday demonstrations began midday, when an estimated 1,500 peaceful protesters took to the streets of Charlotte during two afternoon demonstrations at First Ward and Romare Bearden parks, police said.

"The group expressed their viewpoints lawfully throughout their demonstrations which allowed the CMPD to not only facilitate the protest, but also have constructive conversations with those demonstrating," CMPD said in a statement.

Around 6 p.m., another large group of protesters emerged, also demonstrated lawfully, CMPD said.

As the night grew on, however, some protesters began to engage in street violence, throwing rocks, explosives and other objects at officers, CMPD said.

"A large number of rioters were intent on harming officers, which resulted in one officer being struck in the face by a rock thrown at him by a rioter," CMPD said. The officer, who was not named, was taken to an area hospital with a suspected broken jaw and later released. The attack came one day after two other CMPD officers were injured in street violence Saturday.

The disturbance also led to property damage early Monday morning that CMPD attributed to "a direct result of looting." Those incidents include:

• Around 12:20 a.m., a vehicle was used to ram and gain access to National Pawn Shop, located at 5030 East Independence Boulevard, where suspects stole "large amounts of merchandise." Three hours later, suspects returned to the pawn shop to continue stealing. "An employee who had remained on scene to address the damage from the previous break-in was shot at by one of the suspects fleeing the scene, and the vehicle the victim was inside of was struck by the bullet," CMPD said.

• Shortly before 2 a.m., a group of more than 20 suspects reportedly attempted to break into Walmart located a 3240 Wilkinson Boulevard. Responding officers arrested two suspects, identified as Shirlene Blakeney, 28, and Clotisha Roberson, 28. Both were charged with breaking and entering, conspiracy to commit breaking and entering and larceny after breaking and entering
• Shortly after 3 a.m., a suspect used a stolen vehicle to ram the front door of Carolina Sporting Arms located a 8055 South Boulevard with an intent to break in, however no entry into the business was made.

SEE ALSO: Charlotte Reeling From Days Of Protests, Street Violence

Here's a list of the 25 protesters arrested May 31 and charges, according to CMPD:

• Sedalia Grey, 22, Possession of Dangerous Weapon at Demonstration
• Tyrone Weathers, 45, Possession of Dangerous Weapon at Demonstration
• Denzel King, 26, Resist Public Officer
• Andrew Barr-Jones, 29, Carrying Concealed Gun; Possession of Dangerous Weapon at Demonstration
• Tazhia Petitt, 24, Failure to Disperse
• John-Alec Mitchell, 24, Failure to Disperse; Resist Public Officer
• Joseph Augustine, 24, Assault on Government Official
• Davag’io Anderson, 21, Assault on Government Official; Resist Public Officer
• Shallah Glover, 20, Assault on Government Official; Failure to Disperse
• Jasmine White, 26, Failure to Disperse
• John Santos, 24, Resist Public Officer
• Haywood McCree, 28, Failure to Disperse; Resist Public Officer
• Derrick Willis, 20, Resist Public Officer; Intoxicated and Disruptive
• Daquan Harris, 26, Failure to Disperse
• Christian Castro, 41, Assault on Government Official
• Saul Gonzalez, 24, Possession of Pyrotechnics; Assault with Deadly Weapon - Misdemeanor
• Isaiah Dennis-Bey, 20, Injury to Personal Property
• Alexander Dundorf, 20, Failure to Disperse
• Alexander Simon, 19, Failure to Disperse; Resist Public Officer
• Birane Sene, 26, Injury to Real Property
• Damarius Potts, 28, Assault on Government Official; Failure to Disperse
• Rekale McCaskill, 21, Disorderly Conduct; Failure to Disperse; Resist Public Officer
• 15-year-old, Assault on Government Official
• 16-year-old, Carry Concealed Gun
• 17-year-old, Assault on Government Official