A vigil for a teen who died in police custody turned violent in Durham, North Carolina, with riot police using tear gas and batons to disperse the crowd.
At least six people were arrested at the Thursday night march to protest the death of 17-year-old Jesus Huerta, according to police.
"I could not be more proud of the restraint and professionalism demonstrated by our officers," Durham Police Chief Jose Lopez said in a statement to the media, adding that injuries to those marching were minimized because of his officers' actions.
"There was a march. The peaceful intent did not exist. We used the best practices in law enforcement," he said at a news conference Friday.
Protesters threw bottles and rocks at police officers and vandalized police property, Lopez said, defending his officers' reaction to the vigil.
The Durham Police Department says Huerta died on November 19 from a self-inflicted gunshot while handcuffed in the back of a police cruiser. The teen was being taken to the police station by Officer Samuel Duncan about 3 a.m. for a second-degree trespassing violation.
FULL STORY
Why didn't my comment post?
Can't I write "ethnicity" here?
@banasy, Hagen must be new, I haven't seen her before.
Hagen is the name the real JIF calls his imitator. Hagen posts using other's names. Hagen is cowardly that way.
Oh, thank you. It did.
The obvious troll comments have been allowed to sit for 24 hours. Remove them.
@ stuart,thats so very true im afraid. And they make it sound as if the people at the vigil are in the wrong??? There definitely needs to be a federal investigation for certain. Particularly since this isnt the first questionable incident on the part of that police dept recently.
Lol "hang im" sounds better @ banasy.
Lol, Chrissy. That made me laugh, thanks.
Thanks for the laugh, Chrissy.
True.
Ciao yourself. I'm honored.
I think that Hagen is not the only one who mimics me. As I really did write above, I'm honored.
if there is doubt about my position re Jesus and his arrest, I definitely think that the affair should be thoroughly reviewed.
How could they fail to frisk him?
Something similar happened in Jackson, Mississippi, a while back. Two years ago, I think, at the Hinds County Court House.
@KR Merry Christmas to you and yours. Good I can't even order a piece of pizza without laughing. Soup or Hot Chocolate. You keep warm too.
Merry Christmas KR they deleted my comment to you but agreed on pizza.
My comment advocating an outside investigation of this NC police work did not post.
Maybe I said it politely enough this time.