4 officers injured in Sacramento protests

Several police officers were hospitalized after being sprayed with a “liquid irritant,” according to the police department in Sacramento, Calif., as protesters rallied in the city against police brutality in response to the fatal shootings of Adam Toledo in Chicago and Daunte Wright in Minnesota.

The department said on Twitter that the unknown substance resulted in injuries to four officers. No arrests were made Saturday evening as the protests unfolded.

Group has dispersed.

At this time, we have 2 reports of vandalism that occurred. 4 officers were transported to a local hospital for inj resulting from being sprayed with an unk liquid irritant. No arrests made, however investigators are following up on these incidents.

— Sacramento Police (@SacPolice) April 18, 2021

“All four officers have been released from the hospital. No arrests have been made at this time and investigators are following up regarding this incident,” a police spokesperson told The Hill on Sunday. “The substance has not been identified at this time however an investigation is being conducted to attempt to identify what it was.”

Elsewhere during the protests Saturday evening, police reported rocks being thrown at them. A duffel bag filled with rocks was also found near a government building that may have been unrelated to the protests, according to CBS 13.

Some incidents of vandalism have been observed. Individuals from the group have thrown rocks at officers as they march. Unlawful assembly announcements are being made to the group.

— Sacramento Police (@SacPolice) April 18, 2021

Protests have erupted in several cities following last Sunday’s shooting of Wright, 20, during a traffic stop in Brooklyn Center, Minnesota. Police have said that the now-former officer who shot him mistakenly drew her gun instead of her Taser.

The release last week of the video of Chicago police shooting Toledo in March also further inflamed tensions after it was revealed that the 13-year-old appeared to be surrendering when he was shot by an officer. A prosecutor was then placed on leave on Saturday after he claimed in a court hearing this month that Toledo had a gun in his possession.

–Updated at 2:50 p.m.