KCPD: Tuesday was 'best night so far' for protests

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Protesters have gathered at Mill Creek Park in Kansas City, Missouri, for a fifth straight day of protests to demand action about police brutality in the wake of George Floyd's death last week at the hands of Minneapolis police.

LIVE: Watch live coverage of Mill Creek Park from our tower camera.

11:04 p.m. | Kansas City, Missouri, police spokesman Sgt. Jake Becchina said this "has been the best night so far" in terms of police interaction with protesters. He said he hopes that "kindle of unity" can continue.

Becchina said the two "mini marches" up Main Street went well, even with some demonstrations that spilled into the northbound lanes of the street.

Approximately 15 to 20 people have been arrested and Becchina said "a couple deployments" of pepper spray were used during some arrests, but there have been no instances of tear gas being used on Tuesday night.

10:03 p.m. | KCPD spokesman Sgt. Jake Becchina said "it's been largely peaceful" and officers have kept more distance with protesters tonight, which he credits for helping keeping things from getting tense.

He calls it things so far tonight "successful," and says KCPD is "excited about the progress me made here tonight" and had high hopes for the Unity March at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday from the Nelson-Atkins Museum to Mill Creek Park.

Becchina also credited the "clergy and pastors" in the community, who helped lead today's protest marches, for keeping things relatively calm. He noted there have been fewer than 10 arrests tonight compared with "30 to 40" last night and more than 150 over the weekend.

9:38 p.m. | Mayor Quinton Lucas is calling for an emergency meeting of the Kansas City Board of Police Commissioners because "thought it essential we discuss pressing issues earlier than mid-June."

The next scheduled meeting was set for June 16, which is in two weeks. There have been five straight nights of Black Lives Matter protests near the Country Club Plaza to raise awareness of police brutality toward toward African American people.

Lucas also said he has asked the regional FBI office and U.S. Attorney's Office to review "any and all incidents of potentially violative procedures or misconduct" related to these protests.

9:18 p.m. | The young man wants you to know and embrace that his life matters during the fifth consecutive day of Black Lives Matter protests in Kansas City, Missouri.

9:09 p.m. | Protesters in Kansas City, Kansas, say their message is simple: change.

9:02 p.m. | Roughly 75% of the 300 to 400 protesters started to march again led by a group of faith-based leaders, KCPD spokesman Sgt. Jake Becchina said.

He said he "doesn't believe" officers have deployed tear gas tonight, which is something "we have been called out for."

Becchina said officers "are being flexible" as the group of protesters, which is too large to stay on the sidewalk, stray into the northbound lanes of Main Street.

8:52 p.m. | Several hundred protesters are on the move again up Main Street.

8:49 p.m. | Missouri House Democrats issued a statement "condemning the killing of George Floyd," but also calling for an end to "destructive acts" that have accompanied some protests.

8:39 p.m. | During the march along Main Street, some protesters also laid face down in the street, chanting George Floyd's name and "no justice, no peace."

8:22 p.m. | The group that marched along Main Street has returned to Mill Creek Park, where the crowd has grown along with the police presence.

8:19 p.m. | Protesters marching along Main Street stopped and took a knee near 41st Street.

8:09 p.m. | During his update, KCPD spokesman Sgt. Jake Becchina said the Missouri National Guard in Kansas City have been protecting government buildings in the downtown area, but no guardsmen have participated in policing protest groups.

He also said 30 to 40 people were arrested during Monday's protest.

8:05 p.m. | Protesters stopped on Main Street and linked arms in the street as police watched without intervening.

8:02 p.m. | Kansas City, Missouri, police said police formed a line and approached protesters as it began to spill into the streets. "Four to five" protesters were arrested for refusing to return to and stay on the sidewalk.

Police have avoided using tear gas or other control measures.

KCPD spokesman Sgt. Jake Becchina said a group of people walking north on Main Street from Mill Creek Park, wandering into the street at times.

He said that police will not allow any groups that attempt to block the highway, noting that some walking groups have made it to West 31st Street on different nights.

7:50 p.m. | At least two people were arrested as the protest near the Plaza briefly spilled into the street near Mill Creek Park.

7:47 p.m. | Not all of the protesters assembling Tuesday at Mill Creek Park marched to up Main Street.

7:43 p.m. | After marching along Main Street for several blocks, some protesters are returning to the Plaza area.

7:33 p.m. | The man arrested on the streets of the Country Club Plaza over the weekend in a video that went viral and drew scorn on social media is addressing protesters in Kansas City, Kansas, tonight.

7:23 p.m. | Two groups of protesters, sharing a similar message, have gathered tonight in Kansas City, Kansas.

7:20 p.m. | Police have asked protesters marching north on Main Street to remain on the sidewalk.

7:10 p.m. | Police spokesman Sgt. Jake Becchina said the effort to deescalate and avoid conflicts like the last few nights, which involved tear gas and rock-throwing, prompted KCPD's decision not to have officers form a line tonight.

"We are evolving, just as this protest group is evolving," Becchina said.

He was encouraged that protesters engaged officers in a conversation about a plan to march north on Main Street, which was an encouraging sign of communication between police and civilians.

Becchina said 40 faith-based leaders gathered near the Country Club Plaza to pray for the safety of protesters and officers.

John Modest Miles, the pastor at Morning Star Missionary Baptist Church, spoke about the desire for peace.

"We've had a good city in dealing with problems in the past, and I continue to pray and hope we will be a good city in dealing with our problems," Miles said.

7:07 p.m. | An Oklahoma State linebacker, Amen Ogbongbemiga, announced that he has tested positive for COVID-19 despite taking precautions while attending a protest in Tulsa.

7:01 p.m. | Before the protests started in Kansas City, Kansas, protesters and police had a quick conversation.

6:35 p.m. | One of the changes in tactics being utilized Tuesday night is a less imposing image of police on the streets.

6:25 p.m. | Kansas City, Missouri, Police say they are trying different tactics in interacting with protesters who have gathered for five straight nights at Mill Creek Park.

Despite the different politics, police are still making arrests, including one man who was taken into custody around 6:15 p.m.