MADISON, Wis. — Six more people were arrested Tuesday night after Madison police officers cleared an encampment and clashed with the city’s independent police monitor near the site of the deadly police shooting of Corey Ruiz.
Violence and fires near shooting site
Protestors returned to the intersection of Williamson and Baldwin streets by 4 p.m. on Aug.4, hours after police cleared out the encampment and reopened the intersection. According to the Madison Police Department, the protests turned violent overnight.
A news release says protestors arrived dressed in hazmat and other protective gear, and told officers things were “about to get bad.”
Police tried to de-escalate the situation by backing away from the intersection. They say protestors then moved to East Washington Avenue and began emptying dumpsters and trash cans into the roadways, then set five fires in the middle of the streets.
Madison Police say officers re-claimed the intersection of Williamson and Baldwin after midnight, and did not use munitions or force. Madison Fire personnel helped extinguish the fires and remove debris from the streets.
Earlier on Tuesday as officers were called to the encampment for reports of fires and objects being thrown at city streets staff, police arrested 16 protestors and recovered a gun from a juvenile protestor. The juvenile was arrested for unrelated charges.Â
Police say most of the 16 people initially arrested were charged with unlawful assembly and obstructing an officer. Ten other people were cited and released by officers. Tuesday’s violence brings the total to 22 arrests throughout the two weeks of protests.
Struggle between officers and independent police monitor
Hours after police officers and other city employees cleared the encampment on Tuesday, Madison Police say some individuals stayed in the roadways and “verbally and physically engaged with police officers.” One interaction happened between officers and interim Independent Police Monitor Aeiramique Glass.
Madison Police released drone footage of the encounter with Glass here. The video starts with Glass talking to two officers while holding a phone. The officers then walk away and Glass follows, until an officer in a blue helmet appears to try blocking Glass from continuing by putting up their hand.
The video shows Glass push the officer’s hand away and turn around, and the same officer then grab her arm. Glass resists and is then surrounded by additional officers, and a struggle ensues. The video ends with Glass pulling away from the officers and then walking away.
Family of Corey Ruiz did not organize encampment
Corey Ruiz’s family released a statement on Wednesday saying they did not organize or authorize the encampment at the site of the shooting.
A GoFundMe is set up to support mental and grief counseling for the Ruiz family.
Williamson Street and East Washington Avenue remain open as of Wednesday afternoon.
