Adults arrested in St. Paul freeway protest to be charged with riot

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — St. Paul’s city attorney says he is charging nearly 50 people arrested in a weekend protest on Interstate 94 over the death of Philando Castile, who was shot by a police officer.

City Attorney Samuel Clark said Monday he has decided to charge all 46 adults arrested by the State Patrol in the highway protest with third-degree riot, a gross misdemeanor.

Bail was set at $1,500. Those facing charges could make their first court appearances Tuesday.

Clark says the protesters endangered others when they walked onto the interstate and refused officers’ commands to leave Saturday evening.

Any charging decision about the juvenile arrested will be considered by the Ramsey County Attorney’s Juvenile Division.

After the interstate arrests, police stopped protesters walking in the road on Grand Avenue early Sunday and arrested 52 people. They were cited for public nuisance and unlawful assembly and released.