Stafford Sheriff's Office Brings Police Dogs, Uses Pepper Spray

STAFFORD COUNTY, VA — The Stafford County Sheriff's Office brought police dogs and used pepper spray against dozens of people Sunday in Stafford County who were protesting the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis.

For the past several days, protests against the killing of Floyd and against police violence have rocked cities and towns across the United States. On Sunday at the Stafford Marketplace in Stafford, Sheriff David P. Decatur thanked and prayed with the protesters gathered there.

In a message posted to Facebook Saturday, Decatur said "when that officer kneeled on the neck of George Floyd and watched him take his last breath, he tarnished the badge and abdicated his duty to his community."

"Even worse, the killing of George Floyd has bled fear into the African American community and incited concerns that every law enforcement officer is like the one who pinned George Floyd to the ground as he screamed for help," Decatur said.

Later on Sunday, though, Decatur's sheriff's office adopted a more aggressive approach against protesters who had gathered on Garrisonville Road with signs. The protesters were drawing honks of support from many passing vehicles. But then deputies, in full riot gear, started using pepper spray on the protesters.

Major Shawn Kimmitz with the Stafford County Sheriff's Office said in a video statement posted on social media that protesters, numbering as many as 75, blocked traffic and started throwing items at passing vehicles on Garrisonville Road. Kimmitz said the sheriff's office made several arrests after the office declared the protest an unlawful assembly.

Demonstrators at the scene posted photos on social media of deputies in riot gear threatening arrest and walking through parking lots with police dogs.

"We never got rowdy, we never hit anything, we never got angry until they came out there in numbers, with riot gar, a swat truck, loaded pepper spray guns, and batons ... escalating the situation," a woman told ABC7.