Peaceful Protest Ends With 14 Arrests In Lansing
LANSING (WWJ) - A day of peaceful but spirited demonstrations in Lansing Wednesday, turned violent last night.
The sit-in style protest had attracted more than 3,000 people, inside and outside the capitol building. They were there to oppose Governor Rick Snyder's budget plans.
But as the capitol police attempted to close the building just before 6pm Wednesday, a small group of protestors tried to move in.
Michigan State Police Captain Gary Nix tells WWJ, there was some resistance from the protestors, and police had to use Pepper spray at one point, as officers dealt with the protestors:
"They were here to occupy the building and demanded that the building stay open. We interacted with them and tried to come to some sort of compromise, but in the end, we ended up arresting 14 people".
Captain Nix says at least one person faces felony charges, after he allegedly broke into the capitol building through a bathroom window, and then resisted arrest. Police say he also had a weapon.
