Fires break out after third day of downtown unrest

COLUMBUS – Saturday night was more peaceful in Columbus than earlier that day or the previous two nights, though not completely problem-free, and protests over the death of George Floyd on Sunday appeared uneventful.

UPDATE 5/31/20 5:07 p.m.: A citywide curfew was in place for a second night, from 10:00 p.m. Sunday until 6:00 a.m. Monday.

UPDATE 5/31/20 3:01 p.m.: Protesters gathered again at the Statehouse Sunday but the scene remained peaceful. 

The Columbus Dispatch reported that a suspicious three-alarm fire at the four-story Residences at Topiary Park, 65 S. Washington Street, burned for hours early Sunday, causing part of the roof and several floors to collapse.

A fire official told WBNS-TV that an attempt was made to set fire to other apartment building under construction next door.

Columbus police tweeted that they identified a man who allegedly seen offering people money to act violently.

National Guard soldiers could be seen posted at downtown intersections and the city was under an overnight a curfew.

Earlier Saturday, Governor Mike DeWine said he was calling out the Ohio National Guard and also asking the highway patrol to help help enforce laws in Columbus as Mayor Andrew Ginther and Cleveland Mayor Frank Jackson both announced 10:00 p.m. curfews following damage to businesses amid protests over Floyd’s death in Minneapolis.

A police officer escaped injury when his helmet was struck by a bullet during a Cincinnati protest.

DeWine said the vast majority of protesters wanted “simply to be heard” and focus attention on the death of Floyd, a black man who died after a white officer pressed a knee into his neck, and other injustices. But he said their voices “are sadly being drowned out by a smaller group of violent individuals.”

The majority of demonstrators want simply to be heard, and we welcome the voices of the individuals who are focusing attention on the tragic death of George Floyd and on other injustices. But, sadly, these voices calling for justice and change are being drowned out by a smaller group of violent individuals who threaten the safety of the citizens of our community. Acts of violence will not be accepted nor tolerated. This violence must stop. -Gov. Mike DeWine (R-Ohio)

“Racism, discrimination and injustice have led us to this moment. I want to assure our residents we are making real change and are committed to confronting racism where we see it. But at this moment some people are intent on causing chaos and destruction, not on creating positive change in our community and threaten to drown out the voice of demanding justice and our collective safety, ” Ginther said when he announced the curfew.

Columbus police reported that 59 people were arrested during  a daylong protest outside the Statehouse where pepper spray and tear gas were deployed to control crowds. Those arrests followed five arrests during confrontations between police and protesters Friday night.

Columbus police Chief Thomas Quinlan said seven officers were injured in clashes Friday and Saturday.

At a joint news conference with DeWine and Ginther, Quinlan said those responsible for destruction of property were committing felonies and called for a halt to the violence.

“Enough,” he said.

Police officers are seen on video using pepper spray on a group of people that included Congresswoman Joyce Beatty, Columbus City Council President Shannon Hardin and Franklin County Commissioner Kevin Boyce, all of whom are black.

 “Commissioner Boyce attended the event with several other elected officials, including Congresswoman Joyce Beatty and Columbus City Council President Shannon Hardin, ” the commissioners wrote in a statement. “While supporting the crowd’s right to peacefully protest, the group was sprayed by police with pepper spray. None of the elected officials was seriously hurt. All of the Franklin County Commissioners support the protesters in the peaceful expression of their pain, and sympathize with their cause. We call for restraint from both protesters and police, and insist that all sides take care to avoid any injury or destruction of property.”

Hardin issued a statement calling on the adoption of recommendations made by a commission established to improve relations between the Division of Police and the community.

“Columbus needs to establish independent investigations into police use of force, including negotiating a Civilian Review Commission into the next police contract. Columbus needs to change the use of crowd dispersal techniques. And finally, Columbus needs to quickly move forward to implement the Community Safety Advisory Commission’s recommendations,” Hardin said.

Ginther addressed concerns that many believe officers overreacted and used pepper spray and tear gas unnecessarily.

“We have all seen images that cause us to question whether our police officers are responding as expected. While we believe the overwhelming response by our officers has been measured and restrained, if we are asking for peace and patience of protestors, we must demand the same from our police. When they do not meet our expectations, we will investigate and hold them accountable,” Ginther said in a statement .

Keith Ferrell, president of the Fraternal Order of Police Capital City Lodge No. 9 accused Ginther of tying the hands of officers with his comments, calling them “unfair and wrong.”

Americans are waking up to charred and glass-strewn streets in Columbus and dozens of other cities after another night of unrest fueled by rage over the mistreatment of African Americans at the hands of police.

Tens of thousands marched peacefully through streets to protest Floyd’s death Monday after a white Minneapolis police officer pressed his knee on his neck until he stopped breathing. of

But many demonstrations sank into chaos as night fell: Cars and businesses were torched. The words “I can’t breathe” were spray-painted all over buildings. A fire in a trash bin burned near the gates of the White House.