City of Olympia is considering a curfew to discourage escalating protests
Olympia Police Chief Aaron Jelcick said Tuesday he is recommending the city implement a curfew, after demonstrations erupted into violence two nights in a row.
City Manager Jay Burney said he would be meeting with the chief, Mayor Cheryl Selby and the city attorney at noon Tuesday to consider it.
Fewer people were arrested during protests Monday night in downtown Olympia, but the chief of police said the crowd was large and “extremely violent,” leading police to use flash bangs, smoke and a chemical irritant to disperse the protesters.
Chief Jelcick said three people were arrested — one on a felony charge, two on misdemeanors — during the protest that ramped up about 10 p.m. Monday and continued until early Tuesday morning.
“The majority of people in this community want to have a voice and want to share it in a respective way,” the chief said. “But that voice is being drowned out by those dead set on violence and criminal activity and that’s a shame. It’s taking away from the voices who want to share a message of change. It’s not acceptable and we won’t tolerate it as a police department.”
An Olympian reporter was on scene Monday night and followed the course of two protests, both of which were in response to the death of George Floyd, an African-American man who died last week while being detained by police in Minneapolis. Protests have erupted throughout the country as a result. The demonstrations are largely against police brutality, particularly of people of color, and the imbalance of power.
But Jelcick said some in the crowds are looking for conflict, and have been throwing rocks, bottles and eggs. Police responded with flash bangs, smoke and a chemical irritant to disperse the crowd. He said it wasn’t until the gas canisters were used that the protest broke up early Tuesday, he said.
“They really had prepared themselves for conflict,” Jelcick said.
During the protest, Olympia police received support from the Washington State Patrol, Thurston County Sheriff’s Office and Tumwater police. Lacey police handled other emergency calls in the city.
An investigation
The Olympian reported Monday that during an afternoon protest in west Olympia, there were calls to “Fire officer K. Hull.” Hull, who is an Olympia corrections officer, was accused on social media of saying “I can put my knee on her” as they arrested a person attending the protest overnight Sunday. In Minneapolis, Floyd died after a white police officer kneeled on his neck for several minutes.
Jelcick confirmed Tuesday that an investigation is underway.
“We investigate all complaints, and we will look into whether this was said or not said,” Jelcick said. “There is due process here and we will follow that process. It will be done fairly for everybody involved.”
This story was originally published June 2, 2020 at 11:38 AM.
