Restaurant owner blames police for escalating confrontation with protesters

Restaurant owner blames police for escalating confrontation with protesters

Several Clematis Street restaurants were damaged during a confrontation between police and protesters, but owner Rodney Mayo places the blame on officers.

BETWEEN POLICE AND PROTESTERSWHICH ENDED WITH SHOTS OF TEARGAS AND RUBBER BULLETS FIREDAT THE CROWD.

WPTV NEWSCHANNEL5JOINS US LIVE WITH WHAHAPPENED NEXT ...A DAY OF PROTESTS BECAME ANIGHT OF A TENSE CONFRONTATIDOWNTOWN.ABOUT 100 DEMONSTRATORSGATHERED AT THE INTERSECTIONOF CLEMATIS ANDQUADRILLE&BLOCKING TRAFFIC.POLICE GATHERED AND TRIED TOCONVINCE THE CROWD TODISBURSE.

WEST PALM BEACHMAYOR CALLED AN EMERGENCY 9-PMCURFEW, AND WHEN PROTESTORSDID NOT FOLLOW A POLICE DEMANDTO LEAVE& WITNESSES SAYOFFICERS FIRED TEAR GASCANNISTERS AND RUBBER BULLETS.THE OWNER OF SOME RESTAURANTAND BUSINESSES SAYS IT BROKE 9OF HIS WINDOWS.

HE SAYS POLICEOVER- REACTED WHEN THEY TRIEDTO BREAK UP THE CROWDTHREATENING FORCE.“RIGHT AFTER THAT WERE WHENTHE SHIELDS AND THEY ESCALATEDIT RIGHT AFTER THAT.

IT WASCOMPLETELY UNNECCARYUNFORTUNATELY”IN A PHONE INTERVIEW EARLIERTHIS EVENING& MAYOR KEITH JAMESSAID HE WAS CONFIDENT POLICEWOULD USE THEIR BEST JUDGEMETO KEEP THE PEACE.ON THE PHONE RIGHT NOW IS PALMBEACH COUNTY MAYOR DAVEKERNER.

WHAT IS YOUR REACTIONTO THE VANDALISM WE'VEWITNESSED TONGHT AND W