Interim Police Commissioner Kevin Davis and Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake attributed the arrest to help from the community.
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“The remaining protesters refused to leave the building”. A message left for Baltimore Police Department spokesman T.J. Smith wasn’t immediately returned.
The occupation came amid city deliberations on making interim commissioner Kevin Davis permanent. The full council will vote on the appointment Monday.
Batts was sacked due to a skyrocketing homicide rate in Baltimore following the death of Freddie Gray from injuries received in police custody. The spike followed unrest and rioting in April after the death of Freddie Gray, a black man who died after suffering a severe injury in police custody.
Kwame Rose, an organizer of protesters who have been occupying the building for hours, said he and others left after police had warned they shouldn’t be in the building after hours. Among them: that police avoid using military-type equipment such as armored vehicles, and only use riot gear as a last resort to protect officers.
They also want a commitment from city officials that they will invest significantly in education and social services in the city.
“It’s all part of the healing process”, he said.
The coalition also wrote that during the pre-trial hearings, “we noticed officers without badges and name tags, undercover cops acting as protesters carrying firearms, and wrongful arrests – all practices that must be halted”.
In addition, they are asking police to be “more tolerant of minor law breaking”, such as the throwing of water bottles, “when deciding whether to escalate the use of force”.
“The politicians, they failed us today”, Rose said of meetings Wednesday to consider a move to make Davis permanent in his police leadership post.
Brown confirmed that the protesters have a list of demands.
Baltimore City Police are announcing an arrest in the shooting of a nine-year-old girl earlier this month.
The coalition’s 19th and final demand refers back to all the others.
A few of the groups involved in the coalition are also joining with others – including prominent civil rights leaders like former NAACP President Ben Jealous and large organizations like the American Civil Liberties Union of Maryland – in another coalition called the Campaign for Justice, Safety and Jobs.
Approximately 25 officers initially formed a line in front of City Hall and more police were seen with their vehicles out back as protesters were led out.
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The detainee was charged with disorderly conduct and second-degree assault, charges that are part of the investigation, Davis said Tuesday.
