Nearly 700 Arrested, 25 Police Hurt Amid Philly Turmoil

PHILADELPHIA — While Monday night was less chaotic than Saturday and Sunday nights, Philadelphia still had its share of unrest Monday night into Tuesday with several major incidents occurring as tension continues over the death of George Floyd.

Since Saturday, police have arrested 693 people for various crimes such as curfew violations for failure to disperse, burglary and looting, assaulting police, theft, firearms violations, and rioting, vandalism, and propulsion of missile. Arrest numbers will only increase as more people are processed, Philadelphia Police Commissioner Danielle Outlaw said Monday.

Additionally, 25 police officers have been hurt since unrest began. Mayor Jim Kenney said officers have been sprayed with bleach, had glass embedded in eyes when vehicles windows are smashed, and had caustic burns on their hands and arms.

At about 5 p.m. Monday, protesters overtook a portion of I-676 near the Ben Franklin Parkway, blocking traffic. When police were unable to get the large crowd of people off the highway, tear gas was used in an attempt to disperse them.

Videos of the incident circulated widely on social media.

According to police, the incident began after more than 100 protesters got through fencing and made their way onto the highway. Protesters then surrounded a State Trooper, who was alone and seated in his car, and began rocking the vehicle, police said.

SWAT teams arrived and, according to police, the protesters threw rocks at them before rushing toward the officers. The SWAT officers gave numerous orders for the crowd to disperse, to which the crowd did not comply, police said.

At about 5:05 p.m., police said the SWAT officers shot pepper spray rounds and bean bags, and used pepper spray on the protesters. Outlaw said they also used tear gas and chemical-less white smoke to disperse the crowd.

By about 5:15 p.m. the scene was cleared and numerous people were arrested.

"Today's deployment of tear gas was a means to safely diffuse a volatile and dangerous situation, and restore order, when it became increasingly clear that other measures were ineffective in accomplishing that necessary objective," Outlaw said Monday evening.

Outlaw said in a news conference Monday that another instance of tear gas being used on protesters came to light.

Both uses of tear gas will be investigated by the department's Internal Affairs Division. And, an incident of an officer removing the mask of a kneeling person and directly shooting pepper spray into their face is being investigated.

"Will not allow the actions of some individuals within this organization to undermine the effort that we are trying to make," Outlaw said.

Mayor Jim Kenney said he never wanted to see tear gas used during his time as mayor and that he was saddened to see peaceful protests lead to those actions.

Kenney noted Deputy Commissioner Melvin Singleton was able to peacefully disperse a crowd in Center City by kneeling with them, which was mirrored by officers across the city, including outside the Police Administration building.

"We will only be able to move forward if we are united together, and we must keep each other safe while supporting each other through our grief," he said. "I urge Philadelphians to continue peaceful protesting in ways that do not put yourselves, your fellow Philadelphians, or law enforcement officers in danger."

Then at about 5:30 p.m., a group of men armed with baseball bats, golf clubs, and other handheld items such as hammers and wrenches stood near the 26th Police District headquarters on Girard Avenue in Fishtown.

Outlaw and Kenney Monday denounced the group's actions.

"I would not describe [the men armed with bats and other items] as someone I want for me or on speaking on behalf of my police department," she said. "I don't welcome that and I don't invite them to come back and we don't need them."

Some had harsh exchanges with protesters carrying signs related to Floyd's death, for which Minneapolis Police Office Derek Chauvin has been charged after he knelt on Floyd's neck for about nine minutes.

WHYY news producer John Ehrens on Twitter said he was attacked by the group for filming them. Outlaw confirmed at least one assault occurred at that time but did not offer details.

The scene was cleared by about 8:30 p.m. with no further incidents despite the numerous curfew violations by protesters and counter protesters. Outlaw said she does not know why they were not arrested for violating curfew.

As the night continued, explosions could be heard around the city, with Action News reporting the sounds were attempts to blow up ATMs at various locations.

The outlet reports about 10 ATMs were targeted Monday night and that thieves were rushing into the stores, setting off explosives, and then making off with the cash from the ATMs.

According to Fox 29, a 24-year-old man died while trying to blow up an ATM Tuesday morning.

A gun store owner in South Philadelphia shot and killed a man trying to break into the store, NBC10 reports. According to the outlet, a group of men broke into the store, but the owner fired at them, hitting him in the head and killing him. The other men ran off.

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