Tallahassee Police shifting tactics and will ‘enforce traffic laws’ at unpermitted protests – Tallahassee Democrat

The man who pulled the gun on Black Lives Matter protesters in front of the Historic Capitol Saturday evening will not face charges. Tallahassee Democrat

Tallahassee Police have signaled a shift in tactics to keep order during protests as tensions in the city boil after an altercation at a demonstration on Saturday.

Responding to a series of questions by City Commissioner Jeremy Matlow, TPD said it intends to step up enforcement at protests, particularly ones that don't have proper permits.

"The citys position is that it cannot adequately maintain public safety during unpermitted road closure events," TPD officials said in the meeting."TPD intends to enforce traffic laws and unlawful and unpermitted protests moving forward."

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As a Leon County grand jury meets, and aruling on whether TPD officers were justified in their shooting of murder suspect Tony McDade in May appears imminent, a countywide curfew has been enacted in part to try and stem any late-night demonstrations that could become violent.

Back story:

In an interview with local CBS affiliate WCTV, Leon County Sheriff Walt McNeil said the pending grand jury presentments were partially behind his asking for a curfew from 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. through next Tuesday.

In an interview with the Tallahassee Democrat,Police Chief Lawrence Revell said people are free to demonstrate wherever they like in public as long as traffic is not impeded.

The department has provided leeway for protests that have not secured permits, he said, but it often creates a staffing issue where officers are left scrambling to provide a safe environment.

A counter protester fights a protester and pulls out a handgun. Tallahassee Democrat

In protests past, officers have preemptively closed roads anddirected trafficso protesters can safely march. Stretches of many downtown roads and even Apalachee Parkway and Thomasville Road have been closed during protests that have swept the nation and capital citysince the May 25 death of George Floyd at the hands of Milwaukee police.

Were not trying to squelch peoples First Amendment right, Revell said. These protests that are unplanned, violence has shown up at them. And Im not in any way, shape or form condoning anyone walking up or doing anything, but when those are unplanned, we are behind the curve when we are trying to react to those.

A fight broke out Saturday in front of the Florida Capitol in which a man pulled a handgun and was subdued by TPD officers during an unpermitted demonstration that blocked the intersection of Monroe Street and Apalachee Parkway.

A screenshot of the fistfight between a Black Lives Matter protester and a counter-protester that broke out in front of the Capitol.(Photo: Special to the Democrat)

Although TPD issued a statement the following day saying based on the evidence at hand no charges were filed, the State Attorneys Office has confirmed it is still reviewing statements and any available video of the altercation and charges could still be filed.

Back story:Charges could still be filed after incident outside Capitol, state attorney's office says

Contact Karl Etters at ketters@tallahassee.com or @KarlEtters on Twitter.

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Tallahassee Police shifting tactics and will 'enforce traffic laws' at unpermitted protests - Tallahassee Democrat