Holly MatkinRochester, NY – Two Rochester police officers were assaulted and a third was injured when rioters stormed the Rochester Public Safety Building on Tuesday night and forced their way inside.
All three officers were hospitalized as a result of the attacks, the Rochester Police Department (RPD) said in a press release early on Oct. 14, according to WROC.
Details regarding the severity of the officers’ injuries have not been released.
The rioters were part of a protest that erupted after the Monroe County Sheriff’s Department (MCSD) arrested 50-year-old Nicholas Wilt in nearby Webster on Tuesday, the RPD said.
During the course of his arrest, deputies learned that Wilt was the subject of an outstanding warrant.
The warrant stemmed from a Sept. 12 protest in Rochester, during which Wilt was arrested on charges of resisting arrest and unlawful assembly, according to police.
He was due to appear in court on those matters on Oct. 22, but in an apparent mix-up, a warrant was issued for his arrest after he wasn’t in court on Sept. 22.
“It appears the bench warrant was issued erroneously when Mr. Wilt failed to appear in court on September 22,” the RPD said. “RPD will be working with Rochester City Court to determine how this error occurred, and to determine ways we can prevent future occurrences.”
Protesters descended on the Rochester Public Safety Building late Tuesday night to denounce what they claimed was an illegal arrest, WROC reported.
Today protesters turn violent in Rochester New York trying to break into the Rochester public safety building. I want to mention I did arrive on scene late after dealing with personal stuff but I can give you some up everything I seen and know. #ROC pic.twitter.com/VilwpXFaR1
— Geoffery Rogers (@GeofferyRogers) October 14, 2020
“Individuals arrived at the Public Safety Building to protest his arrest and entered the building,” the RPD said. “While inside the building, at least one of the protesters assaulted a Rochester Police Sergeant and another Officer with a weapon.”
Police did not provide details regarding what type of weapon was used in the attack, nor did it specify what types of injures the officers suffered.
…was arrested for two counts of assault. The sergeant and officer along with a second officer were transported to a hospital to be treated for their injuries. #Roc @SPECNewsROC @mcfw pic.twitter.com/L2pQpif2m2
— Rich Healey (@r_heals13) October 14, 2020
Jordan Hughes, the 26-year-old rioter accused of assaulting the two officers, was arrested on two counts of second-degree assault, WHAM reported.
Police said that a third officer “was also injured in the incident,” according to WROC.
RPD pepper-ball and mace a crowd of protesters at the PSB as they wait from a arrested protester to be released. #roc #Rochester #rochesterprotest pic.twitter.com/pAc7ZbNo2E
— RocProtestClips (@ClipsRoc) October 14, 2020
All three officers were rushed to a local hospital for treatment.
No details regarding their injuries or conditions have been released.
Christopher Berg
Sandy Malone