Democratic Kentucky state lawmaker arrested during unrest in Louisville and charged with rioting



Police arrested numerous protesters at the unrest in Louisville, Kentucky, on the second night of unrest, and among those arrested was a Kentucky state lawmaker.

Rep. Attica Scott was arrested by police and charged with first-degree rioting, failure to disperse and unlawful assembly.

According to WHAS-TV, she was arrested near the First Unitarian Church where protesters were granted sanctuary from police action after the city-mandated curfew to quell rioting and property damage.

WHAS reported that Scott was arrested without incident. A journalist with WFPL News posted video of a woman being arrested and identifying herself as Scott:

Lmpd have arrested Rep. Attica Scott, author of Breonna's law https://t.co/Gla14x8Es6
— Ryan Van Velzer (@Ryan Van Velzer)1600998542.0

WFPL also reported that Scott's daughter Ashanti was arrested at the same time.

Scott is the only black woman serving in the Kentucky state legislature and is known for proposing "Breonna's Law," which would end the use of no-knock warrants throughout the state.

The law was named after Breonna Taylor, who was shot and killed by police during a raid in March. Police later said that they had announced themselves and knocked before entering Taylor's home. Protests and rioting erupted in the wake of the charges announced against one of the three officers in the raid.

Here's a local news report about the arrest of Scott:

Well-known Kentucky lawmaker among those arrested in Louisville protestswww.youtube.com

Louisville Police Department says one suspect in custody after two officers shot during Breonna Taylor protests



The interim chief of the Louisville Metro Police Department said that a suspect was in custody after the shooting of two officers during the violent protests over the death of Breonna Taylor.

Interim Police Chief Robert Schroeder said in a short media briefing on Wednesday evening that the two officers were in stable condition, and that one was undergoing surgery.

Schroeder said that police were responding at about 8:30 p.m. to a call of shots being fired at the corner of First and Broadway streets when more shots rang out and two police were struck.

Those police were taken to University Hospital with non-life threatening injuries.

Various videos taken during the shooting were circulated on social media soon afterward, including one reportedly from the police livestream from their Facebook page.

"Shots fired" and "officer down" heard on livestream from Louisville Metro Police Department tonight on Facebook,… https://t.co/hRDDB0k5G6
— Robert Mackey (@Robert Mackey)1600913632.0

The FBI said they were helping with the investigation into the shooting.

Protests erupted immediately after the announcement that a grand jury had returned charges against only one of three police involved in the shooting death of Breonna Taylor, a black woman, during a police raid in March. The third officer was charged with three counts of wanton endangerment over the shots made into neighboring apartments, but not for those that killed Taylor.

The mayor had announced a 72-hour curfew for the city beginning Wednesday from 9 p.m. until 6 a.m.

Here's the video of the media briefing:

Louisville Metro Police Dept hold press conference following 2 officers shotwww.youtube.com

Breaking: Two police officers shot during violent protests in Louisville over Breonna Taylor



The Louisville Metro Police Dept. said that two officers had been shot during the violent protests in Louisville, Kentucky, over the charges announced against one officer related to the death of Breonna Taylor.

Black Lives Matter protesters immediately denounced the announcement of charges against only one of the officers involved the controversial shooting death that happened during a police raid in March.

Police initially said that one officer had been shot but offered few details about the incident.

Per an @LMPD spokesman just now, an officer has been shot. https://t.co/nkIRABHIj0
— Ben Tobin (@Ben Tobin)1600907991.0

Later they confirmed that two officers had been shot.

Louisville Metro Police confirm that TWO officers have been shot and were transported to Louisville University Hospital.
— Charlie Gile (@Charlie Gile)1600909595.0

Protesters took to the streets to demonstrate against the grand jury decision. Reporters and others on social media documented small fires being set off and firecrackers being fired off during many of the gatherings.

Reporters in the vicinity said that firecrackers were set off at about the same time as the gunshots.

Here's more about the incident:

Police officer shot in Louisville: Reportwww.youtube.com

Man loses his job after pulling a gun on protesters in Louisville. Police posted video showing a protester pointing a gun at him.



A man seen pulling a gun on protesters in a viral video soon lost his job, but police posted another video showing that a protester pulled a gun on him as well.

The incident happened during a protest on Friday in Louisville, Kentucky.

A screenshot from the video went viral on social media as people condemned the man according to the misleading and incomplete information provided.

A Trump supporter attempted to run over peaceful protestors in Louisville. They then pulled out a gun and threatene… https://t.co/X86EbAD1mF
— Travis Allen 🇺🇸 (@Travis Allen 🇺🇸)1600639241.0

There was no evidence provided to confirm the claim that the man was a Trump supporter.

The man was eventually identified as Jim Geisler and he lost his job at American Air Filter Co., which released a statement explaining the decision.

"AAF Flanders supports the right to peacefully assemble as an expression of free speech," said a spokesperson for the company.

"In our view, the actions of this individual show poor judgment and are inconsistent with the core values of our company," they added. "As such, this individual is no longer with the company."

Louisville Metro Police declined to file charges against the man despite the demands from many on social media, and posted an explanation on their Facebook page.

"Yesterday, during the protest activity in the Hurstbourne/Shelbyville Rd area, individuals were observed surrounding and inflicting damage on a vehicle at the traffic light on Hurstbourne Pkwy. During this event, a woman who was participating in the protest pointed a handgun at the occupant of the vehicle, placing him and others in extreme danger," the post read.

"Fortunately, officers were able to move the crowd away and took her into custody a short time later without incident," they added.

"His gun was specifically for me"

Protesters say that that is also an incomplete video about what happened.

"I wasn't even thinking about my life, in that moment, I was thinking about everyone else that was around, which is why I drew my weapon back," said Robin Ash, the woman who was arrested, to WHAS-TV.

"His gun was pointed, I mean, directly at me, it was like I walked up and his gun was specifically for me, was the way I felt at that moment," she told the outlet.

David Mour, an attorney for Ash said he was going to sue the police department for defamation and slander over what he termed a malicious prosecution. She was charged with wanton endangerment, criminal mischief and for being a convicted felon in possession of a handgun, but she argues that a governor's pardon in 2015 restored her civil rights.

"He was forced to protect himself"

In a GoFundMe campaign page set up for Geisler, a friend of the family gives his version of the events.

"On Friday, 9/18, Jim Geisler was on his way home from work, and was confronted by protesters on Hurstbourne Parkway in Louisville, KY. While at a stoplight, Jim's car was approached by the menacing group. They gathered around his car while causing considerable damage to his car. A female protester pointed a gun at Jim," the post explained.

"Jim's personal safety, and the integrity of his vehicle/property were at stake," it added. "He was forced to protect himself. He raised and pointed his firearm at the group in an attempt to ward Them off."

The campaign has raised more than $8,000.

Here's a local news report about the incident:

Protesters push back on LMPD video showing demonstrations in East Louisvillewww.youtube.com