Downtown Dayton curfew in effect until 6 a.m.; police take several people into custody

7 p.m. update:

Crowds of protesters began to disperse just before the city’s curfew went into effect at 7 p.m. Police began announcing the curfew using loud speakers.

6:45 p.m. update:

Protesters holding signs began walking down the sidewalk of Fifth Street in the Oregon District.

Police on bicycles are not letting the protesters walk on Fifth Street. The small crowd of protesters stopped in front of Lily’s Bistro before they started toward Wayne Avenue.

The group of around 100 people are walking north on Wayne Avenue toward Second Street as police would not let them go in the direction of U.S. 35. A police vehicle is driving around announcing the city’s curfew will begin at 7 p.m. through a loud speaker.

5:47 p.m. update

The crowd of protesters have started walking toward the Oregon District on Fifth Street chanting “Black Lives Matter.”

5:10 p.m. update

A crowd of around 100 people moved to the federal building and sat silent for nine minutes in honor of George Floyd, who died after a Minneapolis police officer knelt on his neck for nearly nine minutes. The crowd moved back to Courthouse Square.

Artasja Hicks and Demetrius Hicks walked with the protesters with their 6-year-old son.

The couple said they wanted to teach him while he’s young.

“He might not be able to understand this now, but at least he can see what is going on and see this is a reality,” Demetrius Hicks said.

The Dayton couple said they were at the protest on Saturday night.

“I’m fighting for my people,” Artasja Hicks said.

Both planned to be at the protest throughout the night.

“The more people who you have involved in the movement, the more voices you have and the more your message gets heard,” Demetrius Hicks said.

4:45 p.m. update

Large crowds have gathered around Courthouse Square today giving passionate speeches to protest the death of George Floyd in Minnesota and the treatment of black people by police in past cases.

Many of the protesters, wearing masks to protect themselves from COVID-19, have taken a knee as they protest, yelling “Hands Up Don’t Shoot” or “Black Lives Matter.”

One man was seen walking around with an U.S. upside on a pole.

Bridges on Salem Avenue, Main Street and Riverside Drive have been blocked by city snow plows to keep vehicle traffic from the downtown area.

There is a huge police presence in downtown with officers dressed in riot gear and on bicycles.

The intersection at Wayne Avenue and Fifth Street is closed by city vehicles and Wayne Avenue is blocked near the U.S. 35 overpass.

3:45 p.m. update:

Dayton Police Chief Richard Biehl today said that 36 people were arrested Saturday during protests in downtown Dayton.

The chief noted 33 of those arrests were misdemeanor charges and three on felony counts.

Biehl said that there was extensive damage done to buildings done in the area.

PHOTOS: Damage in the aftermath of Saturday protests in Dayton

He said one officer was transported from the scene with injuries. Many more officers were injured but did not need medical transportation and remained on the job.

The curfew for downtown Dayton and the Oregon District will continue from 7 p.m. Sunday until 6 a.m. Monday, Dayton Mayor Nan Whaley said. She said that while a citywide curfew is not yet necessary, officials will consider it if violent protests continue.

“This is everybody’s Dayton, so we need to make sure we protect it,” Whaley said.

Dayton curfew to start earlier today, community begins cleanup

City Manager Shelley Dickstein said she was unsure when the curfew would be lifted. Residents are permitted to enter and exit downtown Dayton during curfew hours. However, businesses are asked to close during curfew hours.

“We cannot allow for our businesses to be damaged or for our community to get hurt,” Dickstein said.

Biehl said that “without a doubt,” shots were fired during the protests in the evening, however, he was unable to provide additional details. He said that since it was dark, it was difficult to track down the shots.

Biehl noted that 24 of those arrested were from Dayton, the other 12 from outside the city.

The chief commended the regional police response from Saturday.

“They had to deal with long hours and engaging crowds and individuals who had no interest in being law-abiding and, in fact, had the intention of some degree of damaging the city, talk of burning the city down and including violence against police,”Biehl said. “So this was not a lawful event, not a helpful event in any way for anyone who felt the need to protest.”