PHOENIX — Phoenix police say four people have been arrested after a protest in downtown Phoenix Saturday night.
The protest organized by the We Rising group began around 6:30 p.m. with several dozen people near Phoenix City Hall. The demonstrators were calling for a change and protesting against police brutality.
The protest lasted several hours and the protesters repeatedly blocked off roads and major intersections, police say. The officers gave verbal warnings for the protesters to exit the roadway, but they were ignored according to police.
As the night went on, four people were arrested at around 9:15 p.m. near 2nd Avenue and Fillmore Street.
A 29-year-old man named Kristen Bird was arrested on three counts of obstructing a public thoroughfare and one count of resisting arrest. Jonah Ivy, 22, was arrested on three counts of obstructing a public thoroughfare. Police say the pair blocked the roadways on two previous occasions earlier in the week.
27-year-old Lee Percy Christian is facing three charges including obstructing a public thoroughfare, resisting arrest and two counts of aggravated assault on a police officer. Phoenix police say during the fight, one diversionary round was fired, ending the fight.
Ryan Tice, 22, was arrested and is also facing three charges including obstructing a public thoroughfare, resisting arrest and hindering prosecution. Officials say Tice attempted to prevent officers from arresting another suspect and tried pulling officers away.
