May 30, 2020, 1:30 p.m.
Dear Mayor, City Council Members, City Managers, and Others:
Tucson was one of many cities across the country that experienced unrest last night associated with the George Floyd death in Minneapolis. Although there was very little information on social media in advance of last night’s protests in Tucson, we did anticipate that there would be some activity in and around downtown associated with this tragedy. The protests started out small (similar to what we saw Thursday night) and the original group of protesters were peaceful and generally cooperative. We allowed them to march in the street and they took a circuitous route through downtown. We worked with the Arizona Highway Patrol to assure they did not gain access to I-10 or its various on and off ramps. As time passed and it got later, the size and makeup of the group changed significantly. More individuals joined the protest who were violent, engaged in vandalism, and even fighting with each other. We began calling for reinforcements from other areas of the city to assist the group of officers already working the protest detail. Various persons involved in the protest began setting dumpster fires, breaking windows of downtown businesses, and spray painting buildings.
- 4 arrested—1 for 2 felony counts of Aggravated Assault on a Peace Officer; 3 for Obstructing a Thoroughfare
- Crowd size 350-400
- Approximately 175 officers deployed (many pulled from various sections of the city); many officers on OT
- Final costs of damage unknown at this time; likely upwards of $200,000
- Extensive vandalism including at least 3 dumpster fires; broken windows, etc.
- Multiple homes and businesses vandalized with spray paint
- Rocks, bottles, firecrackers, metal objects, and various fluids thrown at them
- Shots were fired within 100 yards of the protest
- Multiple protesters were openly armed
- Several officers hit by objects but no serious injuries
- At least 2 members of the media were seriously assaulted (pushed down and beaten)
- One patrol vehicle damaged
Ultimately the crowd gathered around the downtown police headquarters. A smaller crowd remained in the intersection of Cushing and Church streets until 3:30 a.m.
Tonight:
- More officers will be deployed in and around downtown
- Physical arrests (not cite and release) will be made and arrestees will go to jail
- Several downtown streets will be closed to through traffic (Congress, Broadway, etc.)
- Coordinated efforts with the Downtown Tucson Partnership (DTP), Pima County SO, DPS, UA
- Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns. Tonight if you have specific concerns please contact my Chief of Staff, Lt. Colin King at (520)975-5610. Thanks to everyone for your help.
Chief Chris Magnus