ST. LOUIS • On Monday, Rasheen Aldridge sat three chairs away from President Barack Obama. On Thursday, he was charged with assault stemming from an incident at last week’s demonstrations at ºüÀêÊÓƵ City Hall.
ºüÀêÊÓƵ Police Chief Sam Dotson referred the charges to Circuit Attorney Jennifer Joyce, who issued an arrest warrant and a misdemeanor charge Thursday.
Last Wednesday, Aldridge was part of a group that attempted to protest inside City Hall. The building had been put on lockdown because officials feared someone in the crowd, marching through downtown, had spray paint.
show the group shouting, “We shut (expletive) down,†while storming toward marshals who were blocking City Hall’s south door. At one point, something appeared to have been thrown, making a loud thud at the door. At another, a marshal is struggling as several members of the crowd attempted to rush him.
People are also reading…
Aldridge, 20, wearing a gray stocking cap, is seen in the front being held back by a marshal. At one point, he appeared to shove the marshal.
Eventually the crowd was dispersed after police used pepper spray. Police said the gathering became unlawful when protesters “made contact†with the City Hall marshals.
Aldridge couldn’t immediately be reached for comment.
At the time, Aldridge told reporters that he didn’t see anyone touch the guard. He added that the protesters were simply trying to keep the door open and noted that City Hall is a public building.
A probable cause statement by police said: “Several individuals rushed the doors at City Hall, attempting to gain entry. The individuals broke the door and C.U., a City Marshall, stood at the door, blocking the individuals from entering City Hall. Defendant was among the individuals attempting to gain entry to City Hall. While C.U. was blocking entry, Defendant and the other individuals were chanting and shouting at C.U. and others posted at the door. Defendant and the other individuals continued to attempt to gain entry to City Hall and Defendant pushed C.U.â€
Prosecutors have charged two others in the incident. Chelsea Carswell, of Austin, Texas, was charged with counts of misdemeanor assault of a law enforcement officer and interfering with an arrest. Zachary Chasnoff, of ºüÀêÊÓƵ, was charged with misdemeanor assault.
The incident came two days after ºüÀêÊÓƵ County Prosecutor Robert McCulloch announced that a grand jury declined to indict Darren Wilson in the shooting death of teenager Michael Brown. Wilson resigned from the Ferguson Police Department on Saturday.
It’s unclear whether the charge will impact Aldridge’s service on the Ferguson Commission, a group appointed by Gov. Jay Nixon to help address concerns raised from the Ferguson unrest. Nixon’s office didn’t respond to requests for comment on Thursday.
On Monday, Aldridge and fellow commission member Brittany Packnett were in Washington to visit the White House and meet Obama.
“One of the most powerful things that happened today was I had the opportunity to meet with some young people, including a couple of young outstanding leaders from the Ferguson community, Brittany Packnett and Rasheen Aldridge,†Obama said. “And what made me concerned was the degree to which they feel as if they are not heard or that the reality of what they experienced has been denied. What made me greatly encouraged was how clear their voices were when they were heard, and how constructive they are in wanting to solve these problems. And I think anybody who had the chance to listen to them here today felt the same way.â€
Aldridge told that he was “disappointed†with the president because he didn’t commit to action in Ferguson.
ºüÀêÊÓƵ Mayor Francis Slay didn’t respond to requests for comment Thursday.
But the Don’t Shoot Coalition issued a statement condemning the arrest of Aldridge and those of some other prominent protesters. The group, which has been among those staging frequent demonstrations, called the arrests retaliatory.
“Numerous activists in our movement have been followed, harassed and intimidated by the ºüÀêÊÓƵ Metropolitan Police and other local police agencies,†said Michael T. McPhearson, Don’t Shoot co-chair and executive director of Veterans For Peace. “The treatment of Rasheen stands out as politically motivated in response to his leadership on the ground and as a Ferguson Commission member.â€