Phoenix Police Department arrests 4 following protest activity downtown

PHOENIX — Phoenix police have arrested four individuals following protest activity that occurred over the weekend in the downtown area, authorities said.

Around 9:15 p.m. Saturday night, the Phoenix Police Department arrested Kristen Bird, 29, Jonah Ivy, 22, Lee Percy Christian, 27, and Ryan Tice, 22, in the area of Second Avenue and Fillmore Street, according to a press release.

The suspects were then booked into the Maricopa County Jail.

Bird was charged with 3 counts of obstructing a public thoroughfare and 1 count of resisting arrest.

Ivy was charged with 3 counts of obstructing a public thoroughfare.

Christian was charged with 1 count of obstructing a public thoroughfare, 1 count of resisting arrest and 2 counts of aggravated assault on a police officer.

Tice was charged with 1 count of obstructing a public thoroughfare, 1 count of hindering prosecution and 1 count of resisting arrest.

Phoenix police said that two of the charges for obstructing a public thoroughfare for both Bird and Ivy had been regarding incidents that had allegedly occurred earlier in the week.

Protests had started around 6:30 p.m. in the area of 200 W. Washington Street and lasted several hours.

Phoenix police officers from the Tactical Response Unit were also on scene to ensure a safe environment, the department stated.

“As the group marched through the downtown area, they repeatedly stopped to block roadways and major intersections,” the department said in the release.

“The group was given numerous verbal warnings to leave the roadways, but the warnings were ignored.”

During the altercation that led Christian to be charged with aggravated assault, officers deployed a non-lethal, diversionary round to gain control of the situation.

“During the fight, a single diversionary round was fired, which created a loud bang, ending the fight,” according to the press release.”

“No other munitions or less lethal devices were deployed.”

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