NEW HAVEN, CT — State police and media reports say about 100 to 200 people who were protesting President Trump's immigration policies ended up blocking an ambulance from getting to a local hospital, which forced paramedics to perform an emergency medical procedure themselves on a "critically ill patient."

State police say they did arrest the leader of the protest but not before he tried to flee on foot and knocked into some of the protesters he helped organize. Law enforcement officials issued a sternly worded statement about the incident. "The Connecticut State Police would like to remind the public that protests blocking any highway or roadway is not only a crime, but dangerous and will NOT be tolerated. All laws will be strictly enforced," state police said in a news release.



It began at 4:25 p.m. Saturday when state troopers responded to the Interstate-95 Northbound Exit 47 Ramp (RT34 Westbound) in New Haven for approximately 100-200 protesters blocking the highway following a request for assistance from the New Haven Police Department, state police said. Troopers responded to the area with riot gear and capstun (pepper spray). "The protesters were in the process of being cleared from the highway, but not before they obstructed an ambulance carrying a critically ill patient. Due to this delay ambulance personnel were required to perform an emergency medical procedure in the ambulance instead of at the hospital," state police said in a news release.

Upon Connecticut State Police personnel arriving on-scene, attempts were made to locate and identify the leader of the protest who was leading the protest/riot via microphone and loudspeaker, state police said. The protesters were blocking New Haven streets prompting New Haven Police Department to send multiple units to clear the streets, the statement reads.

State police and New Haven police eventually located and identified the leader of the protest, Norman Clement, on the corner of Church and Chapel streets in New Haven, officials said. Clement ran from law enforcement personnel through the crowd, knocking over several of his supporters, before being apprehended, state police said. Clement actively resisted arrest and was sprayed with capstun, state police said.

Clement, 66, of State Street, New Haven, was transported to Troop G, where he was fingerprinted, photographed and charged with inciting a riot, disorderly conduct, interfering with an officer and reckless use of the highway by a pedestrian.