Parade protesters freed on bond
All four defendants arrested at the Stonewall Columbus Pride Parade on Saturday are now free on bond pending scheduled arraignments July 7, including one charged with felony aggravated robbery.
Columbus police said Deandre A. Miles, 21, of Atlanta, tried to take an officer’s gun, an allegation Miles’ attorney denied Monday. Miles was released Monday morning after supporters posted the required 10 percent of the $100,000 bond set by Franklin County Municipal Court Judge David Tyack. Miles is a student at Emory University in Atlanta who is in Columbus for a summer research project at Ohio State University.
The other three defendants, all charged with resisting arrest and disorderly conduct, were released Saturday on appearance bonds. Court records filed by police say they are Ashley N. Braxton, 27; Kendall C. Denton, 25; and Micah P. Jones, 28, all of Columbus. However, Jones recently underwent a name change to Wripley M. Bennet. Braxton and Bennet (under the Jones name) also are charged with failing to comply with an officer.
The protesters were arrested after they walked onto the Pride parade route in front of City Hall at West Broad and Front streets in silence, holding signs and raising their fists, and would not move, police said.
According to a press release from Black Queer and Intersectional Columbus, the group’s aim was to protest the recent acquittal of Jeronimo Yanez, the Minnesota police officer who fatally shot Philando Castile, and to raise awareness about violence against black and brown queer and transgender individuals.
Approximately 100 people protested Monday morning in front of Municipal Court in support of the defendants.