GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) – “We deal with criminal behavior in one way here in Green Bay, people go to jail.”
After peaceful protests over the death of George Floyd played out in downtown Green Bay over the weekend, things turned violent last night.
Another march through streets on the city’s east side, and in the downtown area, started peacefully.
“We were facilitating, making sure streets were closed, making sure people weren’t getting run over.”
But Police Chief Andrew Smith says things went off the rails around 11 o’clock near the intersection of Webster and Monroe.
“When they attacked the Marathon gas station.”
This all led to arrests after looting was reported and teargas and pepper spray had to be used.
One police officer was hit by a brick and a couple of vehicles damaged. Smith says he supports legal protests, but when actions like this start up…
“Where I separate it is when you start committing crimes. When you start smashing store windows, when you loot the Marathon gas station.”
At that point Smith says you can count on arrests being made and people will go to jail.
If and when any further demonstrations go on in Green Bay, the Chief says he will instruct his officers to let participants do what they want..up to the point where it becomes dangerous to people and damaging to property.
