By Police1 Staff
PITTSBURGH — An officer was injured and 11 people were arrested after a riot broke out near the Allegheny County Jail.
Nearly 20-25 rioters were breaking windows, throwing rocks, sticks and setting off fireworks Monday, WPXI reported. Police said the group, Allegheny County Health Justice Project, was protesting improper inmate medical care.
An officer fell to the ground after getting into a scuffle with a man in the crowd, Tyler Kobel. Kobel was arrested after the officer deployed his TASER, the news station reported. The officer was treated for a shoulder injury and released.
Another man, James Griffin, allegedly charged a second officer. A third officer came to help and Griffin was taken into custody.
A total of 11 people were arrested in connection with the riot. They face charges including disorderly conduct, possessing instruments of crime, causing/risking a catastrophe, criminal conspiracy, criminal mischief, institutional vandalism, aggravated assault, possessing a small amount of marijuana, possessing prohibited offensive weapons and resisting arrest.
Allegheny County Health Justice Project spokesperson Steven Fisher told the news station that he “cannot deny or confirm if anyone from our group was a part of the protest, but we did not organize it.”
Police said inmates were participating in a sit-in as well. There were no reports of violent protests inside the jail.