Bail gets slashed for 9 in Lancaster protests

Nine people who were arrested following tense protests outside the Lancaster police station over the shooting death of Ricardo Munoz were granted significantly lower bail Thursday, prosecutors said.

Politicians and criminal justice advocates alike expressed confusion and anger this week when bail was set at $1 million for protesters facing charges of arson, vandalism and rioting, among others.

Judge Dennis Reinaker on Thursday lowered their bail to $50,000 or $100,000, depending on the individual and what they are accused of.

The judge cited public opinion and several of the protesters’ petitions for modification in his decision.

Reinaker acknowledged the $1 million bail was set on the “spur of the moment,” but said “these are all serious matters we are dealing with,” according to a news release from the Lancaster County district attorney’s office.

Bail was originally set by District Judge Bruce Roth.

First Deputy District Attorney Travis Anderson was not opposed to modifying bail, but asked that some protesters receive “substantial monetary bail” to be held responsible for their actions, according to the district attorney’s office.

“This was a mass event. Alot of people contributed to the alleged bad things that happened,” Anderson said. “Some contributed more than others; that will be factored into our specified recommendations.”

The nine protesters, along with four others, were arrested in the days following Sunday and early Monday protests outside the police station.

A garbage bin was set on fire and bricks were thrown through the police station’s windows, authorities said.

The police station has been closed to the public since the protests.

Protests erupted Sunday evening after an officer shot and killed Munoz, 27, during a domestic disturbance call on the 300 block of Laurel Street.

Body camera footage showed that Munoz lunged at the officer with a knife and was shot moments later.

Munoz’s family disagreed with the officer’s decision to shoot, citing the 27-year-old’s struggle with mental illness.

In addition to bail, Anderson requested that the suspects receive supervised release and stay at least a block away from the Lancaster police station.

Reinaker agreed to place several on house arrest pending release.

The $1 million bail announcement was met by criticism from multiple angles. In a tweet, Lt. Gov. John Fetterman called the ruling “blatantly unconstitutional.”

“The $1 million cash bail orders for several young Black Lives Matter protesters last night is an egregious and unacceptable abuse of the bail system,” said Reggie Shuford, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Pennsylvania.

“Cash bail should never be used to deter demonstrators and chill speech.”

After the ACLU demanded answers from prosecutors, District Attorney Heather Adams’ office issued a statement Wednesday explaining it played no role in setting the $1 million bail.

Four of the protesters will be placed under house arrest if they post bail.

Five were granted $50,000 bail; three were granted $100,000 and one $25,000.