“A Tarrant County [Texas] judge granted a defense motion for a mistrial in the case of a McKinney man who carried a rifle during a June march protesting the fatal shooting of a black college student by a white Arlington police officer,” star-telegram.com reports. “LaShadion Anthony Shemwell, 29, was charged with disorderly conduct/displaying a weapon in a threatening manner and resisting arrest in the June 10 incident.” Here’s how it went down . . .
Shemwell was one of two men carrying rifles who arrived at Arlington police headquarters June 10 for the rally and march. About 50 protesters marched from police headquarters, 610 W. Division St., chanting, until they reached Levitt Pavilion, an Arlington music venue, where the band Humming House was playing.
Some spectators began shouting at them.Police officers testified Monday that they asked both men to “sling” or attach their rifles to shoulder straps.
One man did as police asked and was not arrested, Arlington officer Jacob Cannon testified Monday. Shemwell, however, refused to sling his rifle. Anthony struggled with Cannon when he tried to take the rifle from him and then stiffened his muscles when other police officers tried to handcuff him, Cannon said.
Cannon said people at the concert were frightened by the armed presence and that, at the time of the arrest, about 100 police officers were on the scene.
Shemwell was holding his AR-15 with one hand, which Cannon said was not safe.
“Command staff deployed us to Levitt because the crowd was being agitated,” Cannon said. “We were told to get the individuals to sling their guns or take them.”
Other witnesses said they never saw Shemwell point his rifle at anyone, and Gebhardt said nothing in the law requires those carrying a rifle to use a strap to secure it.
Fair enough?