Tempe police arrest 4 after protests erupt outside City Council meeting

PHOENIX — Tempe police said they arrested four people Thursday night after protests over an officer-involved shooting that killed a 14-year-old boy in January erupted outside of a City Council meeting.

“There were four people that were arrested, and their charges were: Two were arrested for disorderly conduct, one was arrested for aggravated assault on a police officer and the last one was arrested for obstructing a public thoroughfare,” Sgt. Ron Elcock told KTAR News 92.3 FM.

Elcock said there was a crowd of 40-50 people protesting, and the four arrested were taken to Tempe City Jail to be booked.

Protests began outside Tempe City Council before the 6 p.m. meeting.

If you’re wondering, people haven’t forgotten about 14 y/o Antonio Arce, shot and killed by a Tempe Officer in Jan. It’s already heated, and the council meeting set for tonight hasn’t even started. #ABC15 pic.twitter.com/RSCDPXcqdu

— Nicole Valdes (@NicoleValdesTV) March 1, 2019

Protesters disrupted the meeting several times, chanting and holding signs, eventually causing Mayor Mark Mitchell to call for a recess.

So, this happened. Tempe officials walked out when protesters got too loud. Then, they hit the streets. So far, 4 have been arrested. It’s been a chaotic night, full story at 10 on #ABC15 pic.twitter.com/FDeR0aJnrB

— Nicole Valdes (@NicoleValdesTV) March 1, 2019

The meeting resumed after about 20 minutes, but most of the protesters remained outside.

No further information about the arrests was immediately available.

The protests called for the Council to take action on the officer-involved shooting.

Officer Joseph Jaen was responding to a burglary call on Jan. 15 when he reportedly saw the boy inside of a car holding a gun.

Body cam footage shows the boy running away when Jaen shot at him.

Officers later discovered that the boy had been holding a 1911 replica airsoft gun.

KTAR News 92.3 FM’s Taylor Kinnerup contributed to this report. 

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