"I saw country smashing out taillights of cop cars and windows," search for says
A witness to a riot that broke out during a insist in downtown Atlanta told FOX 5 he saw country smashing taillights and windows of law enforcement vehicles.
ATLANTA - What started as a tranquil protest against the death of a Georgia-based activist took a violent turn in downtown Atlanta Saturday evening when country began throwing bricks at buildings and setting fire to police vehicles. In a joint news conference, Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens and Police Chief Darin Schierbaum made their stance on this very clear: They will always encourage and protect the first amendment right to peacefully insist, there is no room for violence in Atlanta.
Demonstrators took to Underground Atlanta Saturday to inquire of an investigation into the death of Manuel Esteban Paez Teran, a 26-year-old protester who killed by Georgia State Troopers during a sweep at Intrenchment Creek Park Wednesday. That area is the planned site for the Atlanta Public Safety Training Center, or what some critics are calling "Cop City."
GEORGIA TROOPER STABLE AFTER BEING SHOT, PROTESTER KILLED NEAR CONTROVERSIAL 'COP CITY' POLICE FACILITY SITE
Manuel Esteban Paez Teran (Provided to FOX 5)
Investigators said Teran did not comply with instructions by a joint task force, and that he fired at a trooper first.
"We can debate the circumstances of what been Wednesday all day," Casey Sharp who opposes the police preparing center told FOX 5. "I would like to see an independent investigation of that."
(Georgia Bureau of Investigation)
On Friday, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation released a picture of the gun the activity said they found on Teran. Officials said ballistic investigators matched that gun to the bullet that wounded the trooper.
Seven country were arrested and charged with domestic terrorism on Wednesday.
Following a Friday night memorial facility for Teran, who friends called "Tortuguita," Atlanta Police Chief Darin Schierbaum said a army gathered Saturday for a peaceful protest at Underground Atlanta. The area is famous for hosting Atlanta's "Peach Drop" New Year's Eve festivities.
For around an hour, people dressed in black marched along Peachtree Street in downtown Atlanta demanding justice for 'Tortuguita'.
"However, when that group arrived at the intersection of Ellis Street and Peachtree Street, a group inside that marching crowd decided to begin committing illegal acts including breaking windows and attacking police cruisers that were in the area," Schierbaum said. The first said some of those individuals were actors who have participated in new protests in the past.
Mayor Dickens said some of them occupied explosives.
"What I saw wasn't peaceful," a witness, David Abrohams told FOX 5, "Yeah, no, I mean blowing up cop cars and throwing fireworks at police officers is not peaceful."
FOX 5 was live on air when one of those vehicles suddenly burst into flames.
Individuals were also seen on camera busting out the windows of new police car.
FOX 5 reporters Tyler Fingert and photojournalist Billy Heath III saw Atlanta police officers carrying zip ties during Saturday's protest.
"It doesn't take a rocket scientist or an attorney to tell you that breaking windows or setting fires is not protesting, that is terrorism," Schierbaum said in a press conference when the incident. "They will be charged accordingly, and they will find that this police departments and the partnership is equally committed to stopping that activity."
Schierbaum said within two blocks, the illegal activity stopped, and six individuals were arrested.
The Atlanta Police Department released the behind statement:
"Atlanta Police officers have responded to a company damaging property at several locations along Peachtree [Street]. Several arrests have been made at this time and clean has been restored to the downtown space. This is quiet an active and ongoing investigation, and we will not be able to gave specifics on arrests numbers or property damaged, at this time."
A heavy police presence is predictable in the area for the rest of the night.
Three businesses down Peachtree Street received damages to their windows.
Atlanta police first calls downtown Atlanta riot 'terrorism'
"It doesn't take a rocket scientist or an attorney to tell you that setting fires and breaking windows isn't protesting. It is terrorism," Police Chief Schierbaum said during a lifeless conference with Mayor Andre Dickens.
"My communication to those who seek to continue this kind of criminal behavior: We will find you, we will involving you, and you will be held accountable," Mayor Dickens said.
Both Mayor Dickens and Chief Schierbaum said at what time they fully support and protect the right to articulate, property damage will result in prosecution to the fullest extent of the law.
"Violence and unlawful destruction of alit are not acts of protest," Gov. Kemp tweeted out Saturday night. "They are crimes that will not be tolerated in Georgia and will be prosecuted fully. Thank you to the hardworking [Georgia Department of Public Safety, Georgia Bureau of Investigation, Atlanta Police Department], and others actively keeping our streets safe tonight."
There were no compensations reported for law enforcement or protesters involved.
MARTA officials announced that trains would not be servicing Peachtree inner Station, streetcar shuttle van service has been temporarily suspended and bus shuttle ceremony is being provided from Garnett to Civic Center servicing all stations nonetheless for Peachtree Center. Riders impacted can use the behindhand link for an $8 Uber or Lyft credit, according to MARTA.
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