Protesters in Tacoma, Washington smashed storefronts and graffitied buildings as they marched to the intersection where a police SUV plowed through a crowd of pedestrians over the weekend.
Irate demonstrators vented their fury on the downtown Tacoma streets on Sunday as it emerged that the Pierce County Force Investigation Team is probing Saturday’s purported police brutality incident, in which two people were hospitalized after being run over by a police vehicle.
The crowd also made its way to Pierce County jail where a number of participants in Saturday night’s alleged street race are being held following their arrest.
“No cops, no prison, total abolition!” the demonstrators chanted.
Windows were shattered, offensive graffiti sprayed over building facades and assorted debris and dumpsters were lit on fire to form a burning barricade in the street, as the stand-off intensified.
Cars allegedly belonging to the local sheriff’s office were smashed, as was a local bondsman’s office. There were no injuries reported from Sunday’s demonstration, which dispersed without incident at approximately 11pm local time according to police.
Police reported that at least three people attempted to gain access to the roof of a building in downtown Tacoma, two of whom were arrested in possession of handguns and knives. The third suspect fled on foot and evaded capture.
Video allegedly from the scene of the street race on Saturday purports to show the police SUV plowing through the crowd and running over at least once person with its rear tyres. The officer behind the wheel, a 58-year-old, 29-year veteran of the force, has been placed on administrative leave pending an investigation into the incident.
Both people injured in the incident were rushed to hospital for treatment for non-life-threatening injuries. At least one of them has since been discharged from care.
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Patrick James Lee, 38, was jailed for 21 months after he pleaded guilty to assaulting two emergency service workers and one charge of coercive and controlling behaviour (Picture: SWNS)
A domestic abuser who tested positive for coronavirus deliberately coughed and spat at police to try and infect them, a court heard.
Patrick James Lee, 38, also threatened to bite the two officers after he was taken to hospital in York following his arrest.
‘You’ve got Covid now,’ he yelled as he spat at them.
Lee had been arrested for controlling and coercive behaviour towards his girlfriend in November when he was taken to hospital, prosecutors said.
Two officers were assigned to stand guard over him, but when they arrived at 2am, Lee was walking around a ward in just his boxer shorts and socks and trying to talk to other patients.
Prosecutor Andrew Stranex said Lee made ‘determined efforts’ to spit and cough on the officers, before he was restrained.
One officer ‘was particularly worried’ because he was asthmatic, he added.
Lee was arrested after banging his girlfriend’s head against a kitchen draining board until she made up a tale of being unfaithful to him. In a separate incident, he jumped on her head.
He also locked her in when he left the house and monitored her whereabouts using her phone.
Mr Stranex said: ‘She told him that if he was going to kill her he should get on with it.’
Lee also made her post that everything was all right between them on social media.
Lee, of York, pleaded guilty to assaulting two emergency service workers and one charge of coercive and controlling behaviour.
Defending, Chris Moran said Lee had drug and alcohol problems and had suffered two close family bereavements in four years that had affected him badly.
Jailing Lee for 21 months, Recorder Mark McKone told him: ‘You were tested for Covid-19, your test was positive and you knew that. You showed a complete lack of respect for the police.’
