Updated: 2 teens charged after ‘otherwise peaceful’ protests in Lexington
Two of the protesters at a Lexington rally against police brutality Monday night face multiple charges after incidents involving a police cruiser and other cars, police said.
Kaulbert William Wilson, 19, was charged with assault, two counts of criminal mischief, disorderly conduct, evading police, inciting a riot, and two counts of menacing, police said.
A 15-year-old boy was charged with disorderly conduct and menacing, police said. He was part of a group led by Wilson, police said. He was released to a family member without being taken to a jail.
Police said in a news release that Wilson was “disruptive during the otherwise peaceful event.” He was seen on top of a police cruiser, and he urged other protesters to flip the car while an officer was still inside, police said. He was also seen breaking a window on a civilian car, removing the driver, and punching the driver in the head, police said.
Wilson was also seen jumping on another vehicle and threatening harm to the occupants, police said.
Wilson fled officers on foot when they tried to stop him, police said. He was taken into custody around midnight in a Midland Avenue parking lot.
In an interview with FOX 56, Wilson admitted he got on top of a police car.
“But that was just to lead my group,” he said. “Never would flip one, because then that’s destruction of their property.”
Wilson’s bail was paid Wednesday evening, according to court documents.
Multiple people in the group led by Wilson were seen carrying baseball bats, police said. They walked as far as Walton Avenue and Bullock Place, police said, and organizers of previous protests said the Wilson group was not associated with them.
Police said Monday’s protests involved two separate groups that eventually merged together.
During Monday night’s demonstration, police officers marched with protesters after they chanted “walk with us!” Officers also took a knee and prayed with protesters for the second night in a row.
The protesters continued to march through the late hours of Monday night without police alongside them. The protest ended around 1:30 a.m Tuesday morning, police said.
This story was originally published June 2, 2020 at 7:15 AM.