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Councilwoman wants disorderly conduct charges against protesters dropped

(Darrin Wright/1190 WOWO 107.5 FM)

FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WOWO): A Fort Wayne City Council member wants the Allen County prosecutor to drop all disorderly conduct charges against peaceful protesters arrested in recent weeks.

Councilwoman Sharon Tucker said during last night’s City Council meeting that those who didn’t destroy any property in protests that turned chaotic the weekend of May 29th shouldn’t be lumped in with those who did:

“The Council does not have the ability to have Karen Richards drop the charges, although I wish she would drop the charges on those charged with disorderly conduct,” she said. “They caused no harm, they were damaging no buildings. They were exercising their (First) Amendment rights.”

Tucker says she’s gotten more than 700 letters from residents concerned about the unrest and protests against racial injustice, and she wants residents to know that she hears them.

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6 comments

D S June 24, 2020 at 9:28 am

Obviously they broke the law and were arrested and charged. Why would you drop the charges? Can I break the law as long as I don’t damage any property? I’d like to see the “700 letters” she claims to have received. I think she may be GROSSLY exaggerating. Sharon Tucker sounds like a pandering moron.

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CM June 24, 2020 at 10:26 am

Charges should NOT be dropped for the people arrested for disorderly conduct!
They obviously broke the law and should have to pay the price for doing so.
It seems we are catering too much to these people and in my opinion, a lot of them are just ‘wanna be thugs’!!!!
Bottom line, enough is enough with the protesting!

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Barbara July 3, 2020 at 5:28 pm

Amen! Totally agree with you. It is disgusting to see our elected officials cowering down to these “Thugs”.
I also believe that OUR police department absolutely need to continue to have the right to use tear gas. We all saw how they entered the streets to stop traffic, climbing on vehicles, frightening those just trying to get home safe! it was disgusting. They have to have a way to control crowds that size. I stand behind our great Fort Wayne Police Department, and I stand behind Karen Richards viewing the tapes and following through on charges. Keep Fort Wayne Great

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Jeanne June 24, 2020 at 11:10 am

Charges should not be dropped!! This is why these people think they can destroy others property; no one holds them accountable. I fully support everyone right to exercise their first amendment rights. However, once things turn violent or destructive and you remain; You are no longer a protestor. You are now a criminal. You need to remove yourself or face prosecution. If I standby and watch a crime and do nothing to stop it then I am assisting in that crime. Maybe if a few of these so called “peaceful protestors” were prosecuted and sentenced then it might detour future violence and destruction. Also, if you want to protest then protest during the day. After dark you are a anarchist, thug or part of the mob.

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Pat June 24, 2020 at 12:18 pm

disorderly conduct is against the law — everyone arrested for breaking the law needs to be prosecuted to the full extent of the law —- going soft on criminals just gets us more criminals

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Rocky June 24, 2020 at 4:49 pm

I bet people of Fort Wayne are happy Councilwoman Sharon Tucker was voted in. Let me guess…she is a Democrat. “those charged with disorderly conduct”…..”They were exercising their (First) Amendment rights” …You can easily spot a Democrat by the way throw out the idea that people do not have a Right to break the law. Just wait till the City has Fascists/Communists occupy 6 City Blocks…bet she will be the person that thinks that they are still peaceful protesters at a block party and try to negotiate with them.

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