MINNEAPOLIS (AP) - Two protesters arrested in Minneapolis during Wednesday’s protests about the election and other social justice issues are now charged for allegedly pointing a laser into an officer’s eyes and kicking another in the groin.
Amina T. Mussa McCaskill, 19, of Golden Valley, was charged Friday in Hennepin County District Court with one count of felony second-degree riot for the laser incident.
According to the charges, she was part of a large group of protesters on Interstate 94 in Minneapolis on Wednesday and pointed a laser “directly” into a Minneapolis officer’s eyes, the Star Tribune reported.
The officer was wearing special safety glasses and wasn’t injured. Mussa McCaskill admitted to her actions, the charges said. A total of 646 people were cited and released in connection with the interstate incident.
In another case, Thressa I. Johnson, 29, of Minneapolis, was charged Thursday with one count each of fourth-degree assault and obstructing the legal process for the kicking incident. According to the charges, she was at the 3100 block of Bryant Ave. S. early Wednesday when she refused to follow orders from the officers. When an officer tried to “escort” her, she resisted and kicked him in the groin. Johnson was then “taken to the ground” by another officer and arrested.
The Hennepin County public defender’s office represented McCaskill at her first court appearance but declined to comment. Court records do not list an attorney for Johnson.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.