Protesters sprayed with tomato juice at Arizona Planned Parenthood
Jan 27, 2016, 11:56 AM | Updated: Jan 28, 2016, 1:23 pm
(Yelp! Photo)
PHOENIX — Tomato juice was sprayed on protesters outside of an Arizona Planned Parenthood on Wednesday, police said.
“They were protesting when a vehicle passed by them about three times, and each time it passed by, it would spray them with an unknown liquid,” Tempe Police Lt. Mike Pooley said.
The protesters took down the vehicle’s license plate, which led police to 34-year-old David Turner.
Police said Turner allegedly purchased a squirt gun and filled it with tomato juice before asking his 14-year-old daughter to spray the protesters while he drove by them.
Turner’s 16-year-old son and a friend were also in the car at the time.
Turner was arrested and charged with disorderly conduct and contributing to the delinquency of a minor.
His children were both referred to the juvenile court for disorderly conduct, while the girl was also referred for misdemeanor assault. Neither were arrested.
Pooley said he understands Planned Parenthood is a sensitive topic and people are passionate about it, but he doesn’t want police to have to be involved.
“It’s one of those things,” Pooley said. “People have the right to protest. They have the right to be out there on the sidewalk. As long as they’re protesting legally, they have every right to say what they want to and have their beliefs.”
No one was injured.
KTAR’s Lauren Grifo contributed to this report.