BALTIMORE, April 27 (UPI) — Demonstrations in Baltimore turned violent Monday as protesters appeared to hurl items at police and authorities used pepper spray to try to disperse the crowd.
The Baltimore Police Department said “several” officers were injured during clashes with a group of juveniles near Mondawmin Mall.
Capt. Eric Kowalczyk told reporters seven officers were injured by “lawless individuals.”
“They have broken bones, one of them is unresponsive,” he said. “This is not OK.”
“We will find the people responsible and we will put them in jail,” he said.
The group of protesters hurled stones, bricks, bottles and other items at officers, WBAL-TV in Baltimore reported. Police used pepper spray and mace to try to disperse the crowd.
The mall became the epicenter of clashes Monday after a flier circulated at a nearby high school saying a “purge” would take place there starting at 3 p.m. The flier referenced the movie The Purge in which all crime is legal one day a year.
Kowalczyk declined to link Monday’s protests to the ongoing protests over the death of 25-year-old Freddie Gray.
The flier announcing Monday’s demonstration at the mall included an image of protesters smashing the windshield of a police car during a protest Saturday over the death of Gray.
The mall and its Metro stop closed down at 1 p.m. along with other nearby businesses. The University of Maryland Baltimore announced its closure at 2 p.m.
“Due to reports from the Baltimore Police Department (BPD) concerning scheduled activities today beginning at 3 p.m., UMB will close today at 2 p.m. at the recommendation of the BPD. These activities may be potentially violent and UMB could be in the path of any violence. The safety of our students and employees is of paramount importance please vacate the campus as soon as possible,” the school’s website said.
Kowalczyk said the violence is spread out over a large area of the city and it is difficult to determine how many people are involved.
“Our officers are working as quickly and appropriately as they can to bring about order in the area of Mondawmin and arrest the criminals who violently and without provocation attacked our police officers,” he said.
Gray was arrested April 12 for reasons not yet identified, was hospitalized after being taken to a police station and died a week later of a broken spine. Police have acknowledged Gray should have been secured with a seat belt in the vehicle taking him to the station, but has said little else about the incident. It has provoked daily demonstrations in Baltimore, and six police officers have been suspended, pending an investigation.
Gray’s funeral was held earlier Monday.
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