Protest erupts against police car driving through crowd

TACOMA, Wash. (AP) – Protesters set fire to a large fire, damaged buildings and marched with placards Sunday night in response to a police car driving through a crowd in Washington state the day before, making the at least two injured.

Protesters gathered near the Tacoma intersection where the police car passed through a crowd of pedestrians while responding to a reported street race on Saturday night. Video of the incident was circulated widely online and appeared to show at least one crushed person.

The two injured went to hospitals with injuries that are not considered life threatening. One person has since been released, media reported.

On Sunday evening, demonstrators gathered in a park, then marched through the city center where windows were smashed and spray paint was sprayed on several buildings. Several objects were installed to create a barricade in the street where a large trash can was set on fire. Protesters also passed through the Pierce County jail.

There were no known injuries at the protest, police said in a tweet, adding that the protest was cleared around 11 p.m.

The officer involved in Saturday’s incident is a 58-year-old man who has worked in the department for 29 and a half years, Tacoma police said. He had been surrounded by a crowd after arriving at the reported street race. People started hitting the body of the cruiser and the officer feared for her safety. The officer drove through the crowd, then stopped and called for medical help, police said.

The officer was placed on administrative leave with pay.

Protesters told news outlets they wanted the officer fired and criticized the city for what they called a lack of transparency.

The Tacoma Community Police Advisory Committee has scheduled a virtual meeting for Monday at 6 p.m. to discuss the incident.

The Pierce County Force Investigation Team is examining Saturday’s incident. The team is made up of county law enforcement officials and community representatives, The Seattle Times reported.

Police also said on Sunday that as officers watched the protest, three people appeared to be trying to climb onto the roof of a building in the city center. Two were armed with handguns and knives and were arrested. The third escaped.

Tacoma is located approximately 30 miles south of Seattle.