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Police arrest people in downtown Grand Rapids after curfew

Posted at 8:14 PM, Jun 01, 2020
and last updated 2020-06-01 23:48:21-04

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — With the National Guard all around, police officers are arresting people in downtown Grand Rapids after the 7 p.m. curfew tonight.

Just after 7 p.m., FOX 17 witnessed several officers arrest one man, chasing him and getting him down on a sidewalk near a wall, as several other officers with riot shields guarded them.

Moments later, a set of officers on bicycles raced toward a man, who sprinted away as they chased him, with officers peeling off as he went out of sight.

Some people are watching from scenes from their balconies.

The city's core is full of members of the Michigan National Guard, Michigan State Police, Kent County's Sheriff's Office and Grand Rapids Police Department.

The situation includes several Hummer-looking vehicles from the National Guard, a SWAT-like vehicle with the GRPD, police in riot gear, including gas masks and deputies on horseback.

After announcing a "public safety order to immediately disperse" and telling people if they don't leave, they'll be arrested, a swarm of officers rode bicycles into Veterans Memorial Park, arresting several men standing there.

By 7:45 p.m., FOX 17 teams reported that the once-tense area was much calmer, with some officers taking off their gas masks, walking away from positions and entering unmarked vehicles.

The curfew ends at 5 a.m. on Tuesday.