Yihyun Jeong

The Republic | azcentral.com

A protest against police brutality Saturday night in downtown Phoenix ended with a clash with officers, the arrest of six protesters and the discharge of pepper-spray balls, officials said.

The march, which was organized by Wave of Action PHX, began around 8:30 p.m. with about 40 to 50 people gathered at Civic Space Park between Central and First avenues near Van Buren Street.

Though the march started peacefully, it almost immediately became a serious public nuisance and hazard when marchers entered the roadway and began obstructing traffic, Phoenix police spokesman Sgt. Jonathan Howard said.

The marchers were warned repeatedly to stay out of the roadway, but the majority of them disregarded the orders and continued to block traffic in the area, Howard said. They created additional hazards as they crossed against traffic signals near First and Washington streets.

Footage taken at the event shows marchers clad in all black shouting, "Hands up; shoot back!" as they marched into traffic toward CityScape. The footage shows officers dressed in tactical gear along the street and some on motorcycles telling protesters to get out of the street or they will be arrested.

A member of the collective, Tommy Johnson, said officers did not give ample warning to the group and that they began to take snap decisions. Johnson said an officer on a motorcycle rode into the group, running over several members and breaking someone's foot.

There were no reported injuries or damages, Howard said.

Johnson said officers continued to follow smaller groups when the march dispersed, and made violent arrests on the sidewalks.

"The Phoenix Police Department supports and defends peoples' right to free speech and peaceful assembly," Howard said. " After multiple warnings and attempts to obey the law were disregarded, police were forced to make several arrests to ensure the safety and well being of all people in the downtown area."

Several arrests were made for obstructing a thoroughfare and failing to obey officers regarding traffic control, Howard said.

Several members of the group became violent toward the officers making arrests and began to throw flagpoles that they had been carrying at the officers, Howard said.

"Officers discharged pepper balls at these suspects to protect the officers, the suspects being arrested and others in the area," Howard said.

The assailants fled the scene and were not located, he said.