Protests continue in downtown Austin
For a fourth night, protesters filled the streets of downtown Austin. Many were surrounding the police department once again. Last night’s protests were more peaceful than previous nights. There are some reports of police and protesters actually meeting at some time to shake hands.
A protester is in the hospital in critical condition after being shot with an Austin police issued bean bag round. Austin Police Department Chief Brian Manley says a 20-year-old protester was shot in the head with a less-than-lethal round during Sunday’s volatile protests.
“The victim of this incident was video recording with his phone. The subject he was standing next to at one point is wearing a backpack. He takes the backpack off and he hurls that towards the officers. One of the officers fired their less lethal ammunition at that individual, apparently, but it struck this victim instead,” says Manley.
He wishes to speak with the young man’s parents so they can get some answers.
Protestor brings molotov cocktail to protest
Dozens of people have been arrested since the protests began over the weekend. Among those arrested is Cyril Lartigue. He is accused of making a molotov cocktail. Austin Police Association President Ken Casaday says carrying something like that is not wise at a protest because it can have deadly consequences.
“If you throw a big rock or you throw something like a Molotov cocktail, officers, in my opinion, would be authorized to use deadly force. But we don’t do it,” says Casaday.
Police say they found Lartigue in a portable restroom after spotting him on camera filling a bottle with a liquid and then stuffing a cloth inside. In response to the statewide protest that resulted in widespread private property damage, Governor Greg Abbott has issued a new order calling for thousands more National Guard troops to help the Department of Public Safety and local police departments. Abbott says anyone who comes from out-of-state to commit acts of violence will be punished under federal law.
Austin city leaders respond to city protests
As private store owners continue to suffer from looters and vandals, some question whether or not a citywide curfew may be needed in Austin. Mayor Steve Adler tells KVUE he doesn’t think so.
“You know, it’s certainly a tool that is always under consideration. It was not a tool that the police chief requested,” says Adler.
The city council will meet on Thursday for an emergency meeting in which more talks about overhauling the police department are expected. The council will also look for answers about APD’s use of riot control tools over the weekend.
The Austin school board addresses the protests in Austin
Superintendent Dr. Paul Cruz says young children are far more aware of what’s going on than parents may think, but they may not fully understand what’s going on. This is why he feels it’s extra important right now that parents communicate.
“I know if we were all in school right now our teachers would be having these conversations with our students cause it’s important and it’s something that kids are processing and trying to understand,” says Cruz.
Because of COVID-19’s impact, students don’t have the usual access to school counselors or teachers that they normally might.
COVID-19 could be on the rise
Just as the Austin area was beginning to reopen, these protests have called in the question how badly coronavirus may spread when things have quieted down. Health officials say right now it’s impossible to quantify how many people may have contracted COVID-19 over the weekend. Within the two week incubation period the scope of that transmission should become much clearer.
New inflammatory illness linked to COVID-19 appears
Dell Children’s Medical Center found the first case of multi-symptom inflammatory syndrome in Travis County. The illness is linked to COVID-19 and affecting young children. An official with Dell Children says several other kids have shown symptoms as well. They have not yet been confirmed to have the illness.
COVID-19 update
Coronavirus hospitalizations have shot back up into the 90s as of this morning. Austin Public Health says 97 people in Travis County are hospitalized for the virus and 93 have died, but 1,217 have recovered. Since the first confirmed case back in March, 3,360 cases have been found. Williamson County’s coronavirus numbers are teetering on another milestone. It’s believed more than 400 people will have recovered from the virus by the end of the day. As of this morning, there were 399 recoveries, 206 active cases in 25 deaths. 10 people are in the hospital, but the county’s hospital system still has 55% available bed space, and right now in Round Rock.
This news and more on News Radio KLBJ:
https://omny.fm/shows/klbjam-flash-briefing-1/am-newscast-6-2-20
