Florida block parties end in multiple arrests and injuries to police officers

Events were held in memory of man who was murdered more than a decade ago

Block parties that were held in Florida over the weekend, ended in multiple arrests and injuries to police officers.

At least seven people were arrested and multiple police officers were injured at the parties that were held in the state, according to the New York Post.

The parties, which in total hosted more than 3,000 people, were being held in memory of Kenya Alexander, a black man who was murdered in the state in 2008, according to the West Volusia Beacon.

Footage that was released by the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office showed large gatherings at parties during the day and night.

Florida governor Ron DeSantis’ order amid the coronavirus pandemic, advises against large gatherings, but does not prohibit them by law.

At one of the parties, a 34-year-old man, who was drinking with his friends, was shot in the foot, which started a riot in the area.

The sheriff’s department released a statement, where they said that after the shooting, the party became unmanageable, and violence was shown towards the officers.

The statement said that the police faced multiple issues, including “a long gun pointed out of the passenger window of a passing vehicle, a loaded gun handed off from one convicted felon to another, agitated crowds of bystanders and bottles, jars and bar stools used against law enforcement as weapons or projectiles.”

As the night wore on, problems for the police continued, and “as crowds dissipated in one location, new problem areas would arise,” the release read.

One deputy was punched in the face, by a man who was not caught by officers, while others had drinks thrown in their faces and bottles thrown at their police vehicles, according to WFTV.

The department’s sheriff Mike Chitwood, released a statement on Facebook, where he criticised the actions of those at the parties and defended his officers from accusations of aggressive policing.

“How are we supposed to turn a blind eye to someone pointing a gun at a crowd, or two convicted felons exchanging a loaded gun right in front of our face?” he said.

“Our response to last night’s events in DeLand was not about race. It’s about public safety.”

According to The New York post, witnesses claimed that there was not any violence at some of the parties before police arrived, and one woman told the outlet: “Can we enjoy ourselves? No,” and added, “We are human too — black lives matter. Every life matters.”

The sheriff’s department’s spokesperson, Andrew Gant said that “overall, deputies conducted 12 traffic stops, issued five citations, towed five vehicles, made seven arrests, recovered two firearms, some narcotics and $3,840 in cash,” over the weekend.

According to a tracking project hosted by Johns Hopkins University, there are now more than 1.4 million people who have tested positive for coronavirus in the US. The death toll has reached at least 89,666.