MILWAUKEE —State Rep. Jonathan Brostoff was among about 10 people who were arrested this week near where a man was shot and killed by an officer earlier this month.
“They’re arresting a state representative, and they’re also arresting an observer from ACLU for doing absolutely nothing,” witness Diamellia Williams is heard saying in a video archived from a Facebook Live session from North 44th Street and West Auer Avenue.
State Representative Brostoff said he was in the Sherman Park neighborhood speaking with residents in an attempt to keep the peace.
Brostoff represents Wisconsin’s 19th District in the Assembly.
Sgt. Tim Gauerke said police began receiving complaints at about 8 p.m. about a group of people congregating in the Sherman Park area. In the area people were standing around at is a memorial for Sylville Smith, the 23-year-old shot after a traffic stop earlier this month.
About 30 to 40 people were told to disperse, Gauerke said. Authorities waited about 20 minutes before again asking the crowd to leave. Some left the area, but others refused, and officers began to make arrests.
Some of the crowd became disorderly and resistant and were also arrested, Gauerke said.
Milwaukee police said Wednesday officers arrested three men for failing to follow police instructions.
The state Department of Justice is investigating Smith’s shooting. Police said he turned toward an officer with a gun in his hand before he was shot.
