(DES MOINES) – Des Moines Police Sgt. Paul Parizek, Wednesday night released a statement concerning the arrest of 17 individuals Wednesday afternoon/evening on the grounds of the State Capital. In his statement, Parizek said, “Throughout the protest events of recent weeks, a variety of crimes have been committed by persons present at these events. Des Moines Police Department detectives have continued to follow up on these crimes, and arrests are being made.

“Today, officers monitoring a protest at the State Capitol arrested three people for charges related to the damage done during the protest at Hy-Vee, 3221 SE 14th Street, on 20 June 2020. Those arrests were made without incident within the Capitol building.

“As officers and Iowa State Patrol troopers attempted to escort an arrestee out of the building, a large crowd of protestors followed them into the parking lot. The crowd surrounded the officers, with at least one person attempting to physically block their path.

“As officers attempted to arrest this person, several people in the crowd began to assault the officers. Violent physical attempts were made to pull the arrestees from the custody of the police officers. The police officers were also pushed, pulled, hit, and jumped on.

“At one point, a protestor assaulted a police officer by jumping on his back, placing him in a chokehold, and wrestling him to the ground. As they struggled on the ground, the officer was disarmed of his duty handgun. The officer was able to recover the handgun. This protestor was arrested.

“The crowd continued to be aggressive with law enforcement officers. Nearly 50 law enforcement officers from the Des Moines Police Department, Iowa State Patrol, and other State law enforcement agencies were required to restore order. During this process, multiple additional arrests were made.

Pepper spray was deployed during this event. Persons arrested during this event include:

• Indira Sheumaker, 26 years old – Charged with Assault On A Police Officer With Serious Injury, Assault On A Police Officer, Disorderly Conduct, Interference With Official Acts With Injury, and Criminal Mischief – 1st Degree (Hy Vee incident)
• Clayton Stein, 18 years old – Charged with Assault On A Police Officer With Serious Injury, Interference With Official Acts With Injury, Disarming A Police Officer, Disorderly Conduct.
• Matthew Bruce, 24 years old – Charged with Assault On A Police Officer (2 counts), Interference With Official Acts With Injury, Disorderly Conduct.
• Bradley Penna, 31 years old – Charged with Assault On A Police Officer Causing Injury.
• Giovonni Bahena, 22 years old – Charged with Assault On A Police Officer, Disorderly Conduct.
• Anna Gebhardt, 29 years old – Charged with Assault On A Police Officer Causing Injury.
• Brandi Ramus (adult – no age available at this time) – Charged with Interference With Official Acts.
• Alexandria Dea, 26 years old – Charged with Interference With Official Acts.
• Louise Bequeaith, 19 years old – Charged with Disorderly Conduct.
• Eva Lewin, 24 years old – Charged with Assault On A Police Officer Causing Injury, Assault On A Police Officer, Disorderly Conduct.
• Jennifer Erwin, 36 years old – Charged with Assault On A Police Officer Causing Injury.
• Kirk Johnson, 50 years old – Charged with Interference With Official Acts Causing Injury, Resisting Arrest.
• Jalesha Johnson, 21 years old – Charged with Interference With Official Acts.
• Jasmine Johnson, 19 years old – Charged with Criminal Mischief – 1st Degree (Hy Vee incident)
• Lashon Winfield, 22 years old – Charged with Criminal Mischief – 1st Degree (Hy Vee incident)
• At least two juveniles were taken in to custody during this event.

Additional arrests connected to this incident may not have yet been processed.”