When activists gathered to protest President Donald Trump near the Texas Capitol in Austin, state troopers arrested nine suspects for crimes including “felony assault of a peace officer” and resisting arrest.
Leftists gathered for a “planned and well-publicized protest” the evening of June 14, according to a press release from the Texas Department of Public Safety. State troopers arrested nine suspects to “keep demonstrators, the public and property safe.”
“Texas is a law-and-order state, and DPS has ZERO TOLERANCE for disrupting public order or endangering law enforcement officers,” the DPS posted to Facebook June 17.
Demonstrators mobilized across America – and Texas – that day to protest Trump with “No Kings Day” events, as The Dallas Express reported. These events followed violent anti-ICE riots in places like Los Angeles and Dallas.
Texas troopers arrested the following suspects for crimes during Saturday’s mobilization in Austin, according to the release:
- Daymon Micah Grubbs, 19, for “disobeying a police officer.”
- Christian Deun Johnson, 24, for “disobeying a police officer, providing false identification and evading arrest.”
- Andrew Joseph Alemao, 37, for “interfering with public duties.”
- Brendan William Talbert, 24, for “felony assault of a police officer,” evading and resisting arrest, and “walking on roadway when sidewalks provided.”
- Henry T. Johnson, 23, for “obstructing a passageway.”
- Francisco Limon Juarez, 31, for “criminal trespass.”
- Esala Wueschner, 33, for “criminal trespass.”
- Dorian Gray, 19, for “felony graffiti.”
- Tyrone Germane Stafford, 44, for “possession of marijuana.”
According to the release, the suspects were booked in the Travis County Jail. However, the public jail database yields no results for their names. According to the jail website, this could be because each suspect “may have been in custody but has now been released.”
According to the release, the mobilization started at 5 p.m. Saturday on the grounds of the Texas state capitol. When the Capitol closed later that evening, activists “began a march through Downtown Austin,” including the Capitol Complex.
Responding to the crowds, troopers used pepper spray, a taser, and “PAVA powder,” which has a burning effect like pepper spray and is often used for crowd control. Troopers worked with the Austin Police Department to “ensure the safety of our citizens and state property, as well as to protect individuals exercising their constitutional rights to assemble and free speech.”
Three police officers were injured as “No Kings” in Austin turned violent, according to Fox 7. And as The Dallas Express reported, several rioters attacked Dallas police officers that night; the department is asking for help identifying them.
“Texas is a law-and-order state, and the department has zero tolerance for disrupting public order or endangering law enforcement officers,” the release reads. “Our men and women stand ready to protect and serve.”
The Dallas Express asked Texas DPS for comment, but Press Secretary Sheridan Nolen pointed to the release.