Live blog: Jayland Walker updates

Ygal Kaufman

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Ideastream Public Media

Several dozen demonstrators calling for justice for Jayland Walker marched Monday evening with red carnations to the Stubbs Justice Center. They stood momentarily in silent protest with flowers raised, before placing the carnations on the curb beneath police barriers that have been in place since before the grand jury's decision last week not to indict the officers who fatally shot Walker.

The city of Akron and the Akron Police Department asserted Saturday that police’s use of tear gas and pepper spray during a protest on Copley Road Wednesday was appropriate, sharing aerial video and video from officers’ perspectives that purport to show objects being thrown at officers prior to those actions.

Akron Police Chief Steve Mylett said the use of force was consistent with the city’s policies and also retroactively consistent with a temporary order a federal judge granted Thursday that barred use of chemical irritants on nonviolent protests, arguing protesters became “violent” prior to doing so.

Mylett and Akron Mayor Dan Horrigan said in statements released Saturday that for two hours police followed what Mylett called a “peaceful protest.” However, he argued the protest became problematic once the intersection at East Avenue and Copley Road became blocked to vehicle traffic, and protesters threw rocks, bricks, and bottles at the officers. He said more than 75 vehicles were backed up at the intersection.

"The officers gave multiple orders for the crowd to disperse before deploying chemical irritants," Mylett said. "The officers continue to work to gain compliance from the protesters to clear the roadway."

👉 Read the full story.

A judge has granted a temporary restraining order for 14 days to prohibit Akron Police officers from using tear gas, pepper spray and other types of force against nonviolent protesters.

The move comes after the Akron Bail Fund filed suit following protests Wednesday in which police used chemical agents on peaceful protesters. Police Chief Steve Mylett says he's reviewing video of that protest to determine the timeline of events. Akron Police initially said pepper spray and tear gas were used after protesters threw rocks and bottles, but Ideastream video refutes that.

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Demonstrators once again marched in the area around Hawkins Plaza on Friday evening, where as the rain increased from a drizzle to a torrent, the size of the protest group grew to over 50 people between marchers and those driving alongside in vehicles. Wearing ponchos and carrying umbrellas along with protest signs, the peaceful group briefly blocked Vernon Odom Boulevard before concluding without incident or police interaction.

Ygal Kaufman

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Ideastream Public Media

An activist group filed a federal lawsuit Thursday evening against the city of Akron after officers tear-gassed and pepper-sprayed protesters demanding justice after a grand jury decided not to indict the eight officers who shot and killed a young Black man last summer.

The lawsuit, filed by the Akron Bail Fund, points to Wednesday’s peaceful protest disrupted by police action to prove what they say is a continued pattern of speech-suppression and unnecessary police violence.

Akron Bail Fund, a nonprofit organization that raised money to release protesters jailed during last summer’s protests, alleges repeated violations of protesters' constitutional rights, as well as excessive violence.

In addition to Wednesday’s events, the suit took issue with the city’s move to close its government buildings to the public and barricade streets and sidewalks ahead of the grand jury decision.

The plaintiffs ask that U.S. District Judge Charles Fleming, who will oversee the case, grant a temporary order restraining the city and its agencies, including the police department, from further violating First Amendment speech and assembly through any method, including tear gas and pepper spray. The suit also calls to codify that order permanently.

👉 Read more

Ygal Kaufman

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Ideastream Public Media

Akron Police Chief Steve Mylett is waiting on video footage from partner law enforcement agencies before responding to questions about police officers' use of pepper spray and tear gas on peaceful protesters Wednesday night, according to a statement released from his office Thursday evening.

"I've heard many concerns from the media, councilmembers, our residents, and beyond and I understand your concerns," Mylett's statement said nearly 23 hours after law enforcement including members of Akron police, SWAT and the Summit County Sheriff's Department released the chemical irritants on Copley Road.

"Before I explain what happened, I need to be sure of the timeline of events. If information is released prematurely and without the facts, that misinformation could cause irrevocable damage," he said, adding the information will be released once "I can confidently determine the exact circumstances of how last evening unfolded."

A city of Akron tweet Wednesday evening said protesters had thrown bottles at officers, provoking the incident. But video captured by Ideastream Public Media suggests plastic bottles were thrown after police released the tear gas.

A tweeted video from Ideastream's Ygal Kaufman initially identified the release as smoke bombs. However, he realized it was tear gas once the wind changed and blew the smoke at him.

"If we made mistakes, we would improve upon them," Mylett's statement said, "and if the officers’ actions were reasonable, we would share that information as well.”

Ygal Kaufman

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Ideastream Public Media

The activist group Freedom Bloc is calling law enforcement's use of tear gas and pepper spray on peaceful demonstrators Wednesday night "gestapo tactics."

"The very violence that this inept administration and Black leaders are calling on to not happen is continuing to happen by them," the statement from the group's executive director, Ray Greene Jr., said.

The group vowed to continue protesting until the eight officers who fatally shot Jayland Walker are fired.

"I’m personally asking the Deputy Mayor Marco Sommerville and Chief Steve Mylett to call off his militia from torturing citizens and just do the right thing — fire these officers immediately before someone gets seriously hurt and more lawsuits get filed against our city," Greene wrote.

He also called for Akron City Council to ban the use of tear gas.

Akron police spokesperson Lt. Michael Miller told Cleveland.com the department is reviewing body worn cameras to determine if protesters provoked law enforcement before they deployed tear gas and pepper spray, as the city said in a tweet Wednesday night.

Ygal Kaufman

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Ideastream Public Media

A peaceful protest in Akron Wednesday night was broken up by police using tear gas and pepper spray. The protesters were calling for justice after a grand jury decided not to indict the eight Akron police officers involved in the shooting death of a young Black man last summer.

The group grew to around 150 protesters marching through residential Akron calling for justice for Jayland Walker and urging onlookers to join them.

Protesters marched north on West Hawkins and east on Copley in West Akron, chanting Walker's name and demanding justice. There was no police presence. Drivers of passing cars and even drivers of cars stopped by the protest honked their horns in support. What started as a few cars in the caravan soon grew to around 40.

Ygal Kaufman

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Ideastream Public Media

In the protest's second hour when participants stopped to occupy the intersection of Copley and East Avenue, officers from the Akron Police Department and Summit County Sheriff’s Office arrived.

As children were ushered to safety, officers pepper sprayed several peaceful protesters. In response, protesters threw a few plastic water bottles at the police. Officers responded by tear gassing and pepper spraying protesters and media observing from the sidewalk.

👉 Read the full story.

The protest started around 6 p.m. at Hawkins Plaza. The crowd marched on Copley Road, stopping traffic at the intersection with South Hawkins and at Storer Avenue.

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Demonstrators including children march carrying signs calling for justice for Jayland Walker.

Ygal Kaufman / Ideastream Public Media

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A group of demonstrators including children walk down one side of a street.

Ygal Kaufman / Ideastream Public Media

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Demonstrators call for justice for Jayland on Wednesday, April 19, 2023.

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Demonstrators stop traffic at Copley Road and Storer Avenue.

Ygal Kaufman / Ideastream Public Media

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Cars attempt to go around demonstrators at an intersection. A line of cars waits up the road.

Ygal Kaufman / Ideastream Public Media

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A protester holds signs during a march Wednesday evening, April 20, 2023

Ygal Kaufman / Ideastream Public Media

A large contingent of police arrive at Copley Road and Grace Avenue around 8 p.m. According to a tweet from the city of Akron, bottles were thrown at the police. Shortly after, police line up and advance toward the demonstrators, pepper spraying people in the street and on the sidewalk nearby.

Ideastream Public Media's Abigail Bottar, who was on the scene, reports a few plastic bottles were thrown after police pepper sprayed the crowd.

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Akron law enforcement in position at Copley Road and Grace Avenue facing demonstrators.

Ygal Kaufman / Ideastream Public Media

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Akron SWAT wearing face masks, holding guns pointed down. Behind them is an armored BearCat, used for transporting SWAT teams.

Ygal Kaufman / Ideastream Public Media

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Akron law enforcement wearing gas masks at dusk.

Ygal Kaufman / Ideastream Public Media

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An Akron police officer holds up a canister of pepper spray.

Ygal Kaufman / Ideastream Public Media

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A smoke bomb is released on Copley Road in Akron.

Ygal Kaufman / Ideastream Public Media

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A contingent of Akron police and SWAT officers wear face masks as smoke from tear gas wafts into the air.

Ygal Kaufman / Ideastream Public Media

📷 by Ygal Kaufman / Ideastream Public Media

This story was updated at 10:27 a.m. on Thursday, April, 20, 2023.

The smoke that Ideastream's Ygal Kaufman initially believed to be smoke bombs was tear gas.

Update: Ideastream Public Media's Ygal Kaufman, who was on the scene, initially believed the smoke that police released on Wednesday night was from a smoke bomb. It was tear gas.

Akron police have dispersed a group of peaceful protesters after pepper spraying the crowd, as well as media on the scene.

According to a tweet from the city of Akron, bottles were thrown at police. Demonstrators were ordered to disperse and 33 minutes later, an unlawful assembly was declared.

The march began at Hawkins plaza Wednesday night.

With protesters stopping traffic along the route.

Ryan Loew

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Ideastream Public Media

Protesters are preparing to march downtown following a gathering at First Congregational Church of Akron. Speakers included Ray Greene with Freedom Bloc and Bobby DiCello, the Walker family's attorney, who encouraged the crowd to turn their anger into action.

“We have lost but one small battle,” DiCello said. “We are going to change things in this city.”

Ryan Loew

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Ideastream Public Media

Community members are gathering outside First Congregational Church of Akron for a press conference that's expected to begin around 1 p.m. It will feature speakers from the Akron NAACP and the activist group Freedom Bloc.

A march to Downtown Akron will follow.

The Akron Citizens' Police Oversight Board extended its condolences to the Walker family, a day after a grand jury decided against indicting the eight officers who shot and killed Jayland Walker.

In a written statement, the board said it is "committed" to "external and independent oversight and review of policing practices within the City of Akron, Ohio." And added the board will "ensure that the Akron Police Department’s internal investigation into Mr. Walker’s death is complete, thorough, and as transparent as possible."

The board will consider taking "additional steps" concerning Walker's death, according to the statement, but did not detail what those steps might be.

The oversight board was created in the wake of the fatal June 27 shooting of Walker, when voters in November passed Issue 10 by a 62% vote.

The Akron NAACP expressed disappointment in the grand jury decision, saying in a Monday night statement, Walker's death "requires accountability."

"In city after city, we see over policing by law enforcement lacking updated training and using outdated military tactics," the statement read.

The group's list of demands for systemic change in the city:

• Abolish car chases for equipment and minor traffic violations.
  
• Routine state and federal oversight of police operations.
  
• Routine reporting on all use of force cases.
  
• Racial equity metrics including a public dashboard.
  
• Abide by department principle to "treat everyone with dignity and respect.”

Following the Walker family press conference, demonstrators marched down Vernon Odom Boulevard chanting, "No justice, no peace."

The group will hold a memorial for Walker at the site where he was killed

Joining the Walker family at a press conference at St. Ashworth Temple, the Akron NAACP and the activist group Freedom Bloc express their frustration with the grand jury decision.

The officers will remain on administrative duties while the Akron Police Department conducts an internal investigation into whether the eight officers violated any of the department's policies or procedures, Police Chief Steve Mylett said Monday at a press briefing alongside Mayor Dan Horrigan.

Akron activist group Freedom Bloc strongly criticized the grand jury's decision in returning no bill for any of the eight officers who shot Jayland Walker.

"What was expected was an impartial investigation into a clear case of excessive force. What was delivered was a trial for a defenseless dead man," the statement read.

"The rot in Akron and in Ohio smells of the strange fruit of lynched black men," Freedom Bloc said.

While calling for prayer and support for the Walker family, the statement called for marches Tuesday.

"No one rests until the lives of Black people are valued, liberated and free."

"The Akron FOP (Fraternal Order of Police) acknowledges the pain and suffering of Mr. Walker's family and joins them in calling for peace in our community," said a statement Monday from attorneys for three of the eight Akron police officers.

The statement called the incident "a tragedy for our entire community, including the family of Jayland Walker, as well as all of the officers involved."

Each officer "cooperated fully" with the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation," the statement said. "They were interviewed and answered each and every question truthfully and completely."

Rep. Emilia Strong Sykes, whose 13th congressional district includes Akron, plans to ask the U.S. Department of Justice to investigate the "patterns and practices of the Akron Police Department."

Read the summary investigative report from the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigations.

👉 Find all the investigative files on the Ohio Attorney General's website.

Akron Mayor Dan Horrigan and Police Chief Steve Mylett will hold a briefing at Akron's Water Reclamation Facility at 5:30 p.m. Follow @AnnaHuntsman_ on Twitter.

The Walker family holds a press conference at 6 p.m. Follow @GabrielKKramer on Twitter.

Akron Public Schools in a letter to families today says all schools will be closed Tuesday, April 18, and after-school activities will be canceled.

The school district says it made the decision to help ensure the “safety of our scholars and staff” in anticipation of the grand jury decision in the Jayland Walker case.

The grand jury was made up of two Black jurors. There were three men and six women, the AG's office said.

Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost encouraged the public — especially those who don't trust the grand jury or the investigation — to review the evidence themselves.

"We’re putting everything out on the internet," he said. "If you go through the whole file, you’ll come to the same conclusion."

The AG declined to provide the names of the Akron police officers.

Correction: Three men, not two, served on the grand jury.

Investigators conducted more than 100 interviews, including of the eight officers who fired their weapons, according to Senior Assistant Attorney General Anthony Pierson in a Monday press conference.

They reviewed bodycam footage clips from the eight officers who fired their weapons and four officers who responded after plus surveillance video from businesses and ring cameras in the area.

Walker had no criminal history and he delivered for DoorDash and Amazon, Pierson said.

Akron police fired 94 shots within about 7 seconds, Pierson said. Walker suffered 46 gunshot wounds.

Officers thought they heard a gunshot while Walker was running, and that's why they began to shoot, he said. He was unarmed.

Read more.

In a Monday afternoon press conference, Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost announces a special Summit County grand jury has declined to indict the eight Akron police officers who shot or grazed 25-year-old Jayland Walker in the early morning hours of June 27, 2022.

The Summit County Medical Examiner's office found Walker was wounded or grazed 46 times.

Yost says a bullet was recovered on an entrance ramp to route 8, where police chased Walker. He says police officers had reason to believe Walker was armed, and he reached for his waistband during a foot chase.

The grand jury ruled - "The officers were legally justified in their use of force."

Read the story.