BALTIMORE (AP) — Though protestors stayed out past a 10 p.m. curfew, the police were mostly able to subdue and disperse a crowd after a day of peaceful protest.
A line of police behind riot shields hurled smoke grenades and fired pepper balls at dozens of protesters Tuesday night to enforce a citywide curfew, imposed after the worst outbreak of rioting in Baltimore since 1968.
Demonstrators threw bottles at police, and picked up the smoke grenades and hurled them back at officers. No immediate arrests or serious injuries were reported.
The clash came after a day of high tension but relative peace in Baltimore, as thousands of police officers and National Guardsmen poured into the city to prevent another round of rioting like the one that rocked the city on Monday.
Here’s a timeline post-curfew:
10:50 p.m.
Military vehicles are flying through the street trying to disperse the last of the crowd.
There are still dozens of people, but they are further back from the intersection as police continue to hold their line and slowly advance, using a great deal of restraint.
The Baltimore Police twitter feed said at 10:34 p.m.: “People who remain on the street – who do not meet the exceptions – are now in violation of the emergency curfew.” Moments after the tweet, dozens of police advanced across the intersection. Reporters said a crowd had dwindled as people ran down side streets.
People are protesting the death of Freddie Gray, who died following injuries he suffered in police custody.
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10:35 p.m.
Smoke bombs or fireworks thrown from the crowd sent acrid smoke billowing around a square where dozens of riot police stood with shields in front of them, lined shoulder to shoulder against the crowd. Police advanced some steps forward into the intersection but there were no immediate signs of any arrests being made.
According to local reports people scattered, running in different directions down side streets. The smoke from the incendiary devices wafted through the square. Local reporters said the tension rose after people threw water bolts and other debris. People covered their faces as they ran, some coughing.
Baltimore Police tweeted at 10:32 p.m. that “Officers are now deploying pepper balls at the aggressive crowd.”
People are protesting the death of Freddie Gray, who died following injuries he suffered in police custody.
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10:15 p.m.
Fifteen minutes after the start of the city-wide curfew, hundreds of people are still on the streets of Baltimore. Police in riot gear have started to move toward the crowd. Volunteers are still urging the crowd to go home. Police have told media they can stay but residents are being told to leave.
A helicopter is broadcasting a message telling all non-media to go home.
The message said, “You must go home. You cannot remain here. You will be subject to arrest.”
Some are throwing bottles at the police. The riot officers are advancing.
People across the country are angry over the police-custody death of Freddie Gray.
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10:00 p.m.
Baltimore police spokesman Capt. Eric Kowalczyk said police were using a variety of measures to inform the public about the curfew.
Shortly before the curfew was to go into effect he said that police in cruisers were driving through neighborhoods using their cars’ public address systems to notify residents of the 10 p.m. curfew. He said police were also broadcasting the message using a police helicopter. Kowalczyk said the city was also using its Reverse 911 system to notify residents of the curfew.
Maryland’s governor said there will be 2,000 National Guard troops and more than 1,000 police officers on the streets to enforce the 10 p.m.-5 a.m. curfew after riots in the wake of Freddie Gray’s death. He died after injuries in police custody.
It was the first time since the assassination of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. in 1968 that the National Guard was called out in Baltimore to prevent civil unrest.
It was the first time since the assassination of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. in 1968 that the National Guard was called out in Baltimore to prevent civil unrest.
Maryland’s governor said 2,000 Guardsmen and 1,000 law officers would be in place overnight.
“This combined force will not tolerate violence or looting,” Gov. Larry Hogan warned.
The racially charged violence on Monday by set off by the case of Freddie Gray, a 25-year-old black man who died of a spinal-cord injury under mysterious circumstances while in police custody.
