Cleveland Police: 17 protesters arrested during skirmish near GOP convention site
CLEVELAND (AP) — Police say 17 people were arrested Wednesday during a chaotic protest outside the arena housing the Republican National Convention.
Cleveland police Calvin Williams said Wednesday night that brings the total to 22 people arrested during the convention, including the previous weekend.
Williams said no pepper spray was used, despite a news report to the contrary. He says police had fire extinguishers during the event in which a flag was burned in protest.
Williams says 15 people were arrested on charges of failing to disperse and two were arrested on charge of felonious assault on a police officer because of minor injuries to a Cleveland police supervisor and a member of the Ohio State Highway Patrol.
Williams said an individual whose pants were on fire got defensive when an officer tried to extinguish the blaze and assaulted the officer.
A group tries to burn an American flag as police move in near the sight of the Republican National Convention (RNC) in downtown Cleveland on the third day of the convention on July 20, 2016 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images)