AKRON, Ohio — One week after Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost announced that a grand jury decided not to criminally indict the eight police officers involved in the fatal shooting of Jayland Walker in Akron last June, two people were arrested as a part of a caravan protest that took place on Monday.
According to Akron Police, officers observed several protesters on foot and a caravan of over a dozen vehicles traveling westbound on E. Tallmadge Avenue at approximately 6:10 p.m. on Monday. The caravan included vehicles that police say were driving recklessly, people hanging out of car windows, and blocking intersections, with cars blocking the entire westbound travel lane on E. Tallmadge Avenue at one point.
Officers proceeded to conduct a traffic stop on a Nissan Armada in the Circle K parking lot on the corner of N. Main Street and Tallmadge Avenue. During the stop, a blue vehicle driven by 26-year-old Elijah Hawkins entered the parking lot and began filming the officers. Police say Hawkins had also been observed driving recklessly moments earlier, and was at one point seen operating his vehicle with an open door while standing up.
Police proceeded to arrest Hawkins without incident and say they recovered a loaded handgun inside the car he was driving. He was charged with Carrying Concealed Weapons, Weapons Under Disability, and having a Firearm in a Motor Vehicle and issued several citations before being booked into the Summit County Jail.
Officers say they were forced to relocate twice following their initial traffic stop in order to avoid additional interference. Officers say that 40-year-old Frank Ragsdale, who was leading the procession at various times, arrived where the officers had relocated and blocked at least one marked police vehicle with his body, delaying the car from leaving. Ragsdale was arrested after he reportedly followed officers to a second location, and charged with Obstructing Official Business and Disorderly Conduct and issued traffic citations for reckless operation and was transported to the Summit County Jail.
The 35-year-old woman who was driving the Nissan and a passenger in her vehicle were each issued a citation and released. Three total vehicles were towed.