CPD Release Bulleted Timeline of Protest & Macing

The Columbus Division of Police have released their official timeline of events that preceded the eventual macing of demonstrators and protestors during a Socialist Alternative march against Trump and his policies. They have also released their definition of a peaceful protest and why, when the protesters eventually began to gather in the streets it became a question of legality.

“A peaceful demonstration is viewed as a legally acceptable manner of expressing an opinion. The right to protest, when done according to law, is embedded in the spirit of the Constitution. The role of the Columbus Division of Police during a demonstration is twofold: to protect the rights of peaceful demonstrators and to protect the rights of the public. Permits are not typically required for demonstrations. However, permits are required for the formation of any parade, procession or other moving assemblage upon any street or public thoroughfare. No permit was obtained by the demonstrators. No arrests were reported.”

The following bullet points provide a timeline of the events and actions of demonstrators and police personnel:

5:00 pm – Several hundred demonstrators gather at Statehouse to begin protest
5:09 pm – COTA advised of demonstration / may impact service
5:20 pm – Demonstration monitored and no problems reported
7:13 pm – All Zone 5 Midwatch Units report / circulate / and monitor the Statehouse area
7:29 pm – Demonstrators begin walking from Broad Street to State Street
7:42 pm – Demonstrators take over all lanes of traffic and are walking south bound on S. High Street from 250 S. High Street – Vehicular traffic is stopped
7:46 pm – Demonstrators block west bound Rich Street
7:48 pm – Cruiser requested at S. High Street and Fulton Street for traffic control

7:50 pm – Pregnant woman scheduled to be induced – cannot get through area at S. High Street south of Main Street – escorted to hospital
8:00 pm – Demonstrators chanting, “Take- the- streets!”
8:05 pm – Demonstrators taking over S. High Street – Standing in street, not moving
8:12 pm – Officers report demonstrators are sitting in Street at S. High Street and State Street
8:15 pm – Demonstrators linking arms and standing in middle of S. High Street
8:21 pm – Dispersal warnings begin – Demonstrators ordered to disperse from the streets and stay on sidewalks
8:42 pm – Additional officers and supervisors requested to respond to area – city goes to priority runs only on 4 out of 5 patrol zones – dispersal orders continue
8:50 pm – All COTA busses move off of High Street between Livingston and Spring Street – dispersal orders continue
9:04 pm – MK-9 Aerosol (OC Aerosol Spray) sprayed in dispersed pattern deployed to cause crowd to move
9:05 pm – Demonstrators begin to move
9:24 pm – Demonstrators on sidewalks
9:40 pm – Division personnel and equipment released to their precincts
9:42 pm – COTA buses back in service on High Street

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