Charlotte city councilman among several arrested after George Floyd protest turns violent

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (WTVD) -- Several people were arrested on Friday night as protesters began to throw rocks and objects at officers in front of a Charlotte-Mecklenburg police station, WSOC reports.

Hundreds of protesters gathered in front Metro division police station on Beatties Ford Road to protest the death of George Floyd.

ABC-affiliate WSOC reports that authorities have geared up and are working to ease protester's right to demonstrate.

RELATED: Nationwide protest erupt following George Floyd's death

The protests follow shortly after Derek Chauvin, one of four officers involved in George Floyd's death, was charged. Chauvin was charged with third-degree murder and manslaughter on Friday.

WSOC reported people smashed windows and went into a few stores such as a cell phone store and a Food Lion, causing a lot of damage and looting.

Police took several people into custody, including Charlotte city councilman Braxton Winston.

Winston and the others were charged with failure to disperse on command.

In this May 29 news conference, prosecutors announce third-degree murder and manslaughter charges against Derek Chauvin in the death of George Floyd.

In the video, Chauvin is seen kneeling on Floyd's neck as Floyd is on the ground. He gradually becomes motionless as Chauvin and three other officers ignore bystanders' shouts to get off him. Freeman said the investigation continues into the other three officers, but that authorities "felt it appropriate to focus on the most dangerous perpetrator."

Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Chief Kerr Putney told WSOC he is outraged by Floyd's death calling it "disgusting and cowardly.'

"We keep doing all this work and the behavior of one person basically puts all in jeopardy. It made our jobs in this profession a lot harder. It's ridiculous. It's disgusting. It's frustrating. And I'm getting tired of it," he said.

Putney, like many other police chief within the Triangle, have expressed their discomfort with the handling of the situation.

In May of 2020, Durham police chief C.J. Davis said she was "incensed" and "hurt" when she saw the George Floyd video and could not watch the whole thing.

Fayetteville Police Chief Gina Hawkins believes the officers in the viral video arresting Floyd should be held accountable and has even started using the video as a training tool within the department.

"What I saw should be resulting in a criminal investigation. I saw what appeared to be a man going from life to death. It was hurtful, angry, lot of emotions when I watched it."