17-year-old charged for allegedly throwing a firework at Glendale Police officers during protest

PHOENIX — A 17-year-old has been charged as an adult for allegedly throwing a firework at Glendale Police officers during a protest last month, the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office announced on Thursday.

Upwards of 1,000 people were protesting against federal immigration policy in the West Valley at 67th Avenue and Camelback Road in February. Police declared unlawful assembly, citing aggressive behavior, hours into the protest. Police used chemical agents to disperse the crowd around 10:15 p.m.

The prosecutors allege that Joseph Lopez lit a firework and threw it toward a group of officers, causing burns and hearing damage to the group.

Lopez was indicted on 22 counts of aggravated assault — one count for each officer he allegedly harmed.

“When an officer is assaulted, it’s not just an attack on them; it’s an attack on the safety of our communities,” Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell said in the release. “I will not tolerate anyone treating law enforcement as targets or endangering their lives.”

Lopez is being held on $100,000 secured bound.

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