CHARLOTTE, N.C., Dec. 1 (UPI) -- The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department said it arrested four people for obstructing traffic when protesters took to the streets to demand more police transparency after prosecutors announced Keith Lamont Scott's fatal shooting was justified.
The protest that began at the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department headquarters and moved to the Charlotte city center was organized by the Charlotte Uprising coalition. The protest was generally peaceful, particularly when compared to incidents of protests and rioting after Scott's death in September that led N.C. Gov. Pat McCory to declare a state of emergency.
Some scuffles between police and protesters occurred at about 8:30 p.m.
"Protesters mostly peaceful tonight. Total of four arrests at this time. All charged with obstructing traffic, one also with disorderly conduct," CMPD said in a statement.
CMPD said it deployed members of its Constructive Conversation Teams to respond to the demonstrations who were "with protesters -- listening to concerns, answering questions and engaging in conversations."
The protest follows an earlier announcement by Andrew Murray, the district attorney for Charlotte-Mecklenburg County, in which he said Officer Brentley Vinson would not be charged in Scott's fatal shooting.
"I know some are going to be frustrated," Murray said, but Vinson "was justified in shooting him."
