SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Update: The Scottsdale Police Department confirmed that 12 people were arrested during the protests for various charges.
Taylor Clemons, Whitney Hannon, Enrique Espinoza, Muhammad Ali, Christian Poineau, Peyton Spence, Lamont Saunders, Stephanie Nelson, Sabrin John Kamel Del, Alexander Bligh, Breanna Akins and an unnamed 17-year-old boy were arrested.
The Scottsdale Police Department has announced that Scottsdale's Fashion Square Mall, as well as Camelback Road from Goldwater Boulevard to Scottsdale Road, is closed for the entirety of Sunday. Police asked people to avoid the area.
Original Story:
The protests over George Floyd's death turned destructive in Scottsdale Saturday night.
Police said there was some damage to businesses in the area of Fashion Square Mall, which had closed early in anticipation of the protests.
Sky 12 video shows protesters smashing glass windows and doors at the Apple Store, Crate and Barrel, Urban Outfitters and Neiman Marcus. Some of them looted items from the stores.
Police declared the gathering an unlawful assembly shortly before 11 p.m. The crowds were ordered to disperse.
Officers broke up groups that broke into several businesses in the area over the next few hours.
Not too far away, a jewelry store owner and a few of his employees brought their guns to the Old Town Scottsdale store to try to protect it.
"After seeing exactly what happened at the Apple Store, this isn't a protest, this isn't rioting, this is crime. And I understand what happened in Minnesota is horrific..." the store owner said.
Along with businesses, protesters appeared to have targeted police vehicles as well. At least one of the cruisers responding to the unrest Saturday night was covered in spray paint.
"Officers are on scene dealing with large numbers of citizens, some of whom have chosen to commit criminal acts. Peaceful assembly is a protected activity. Criminal acts are not. This has now been declared an unlawful assembly. All people should avoid the area or risk arrest," Scottsdale PD said in a statement Saturday night.
Camelback Road, Scottsdale Road and Goldwater Boulevard are all closed to vehicle traffic.
There was also a large protest in downtown Phoenix.
