3 Black Lives Matter Protesters Arrested In Commack: Police

COMMACK, NY — Three protesters were arrested at a Black Lives Matter march Wednesday in Commack, Suffolk police said. Roughly 30 protesters attended the event on the Veterans Memorial Highway, according to police.

Officers warned protesters not to enter the road and block traffic multiple times, police said. Three of them stopped traffic and were arrested, police said.

Michael Montamedian, 20, of East Meadow, and Terrel Tuosto, 28, of West Hempstead, were charged with second-degree reckless endangerment and disorderly conduct: obstructing traffic. Danielle Azoulay, 23, of Commack, was charged with disorderly conduct: obstructing traffic.

Veterans Memorial Highway was shut down between Harned Road and Jericho Turnpike as protesters entered the road in front of the Target shopping center, Smithtown Public Safety tweeted shortly before 6 p.m. Wednesday.

Sebastian Lauer, who said he was at the protest, wrote on Facebook Wednesday evening that "three peaceful protesters from LI Peaceful Protest were arrested with no warning in an unlawful sting by Suffolk PD." Many officers weren't wearing masks while making the arrests, he wrote.

"It’s worth noting they arrested them directly parallel to a crosswalk 3 yards away while we all crossed the street at the beginning of the event," Lauer said.

The first video shows the arrests, as protesters ask why two of their fellow marchers were placed in custody.

"Can't peacefully protest in America anymore," one protester says.

An officer then tells the protesters to get back on the sidewalk.

"You're in the road illegally," he said. "Get back on the sidewalk, now. We're gonna explain the rules. Get back on the sidewalk. You will not be warned again. Get back on the sidewalk."

The protesters make their way off the road, chanting "Black Lives Matter!" before asking the officers where their masks are.

A woman who didn't leave the road is then seen on video being arrested. Someone tells the officers "You're all f------ bat s--- crazy," and a few protesters start calling the officers Nazis.

"Protesting is our First Amendment right," a protester says. "You guys are breaking the Constitution. This our first Amendment right to peacefully protest. You're disrupting a peaceful protest. I don't know why you joined the force, but I'm pretty sure this isn't it."

Chants of "Peaceful protest!", "We're not tired!", "We're not leaving!" and "Black Lives Matter!" broke out.

The protesters made their way over to the police precinct, where one asked if his brother, who was arrested, was there. He asked what a group of officers was doing outside, to which one responded, "exercising our right not to speak," and asked the protester what he needed.

"I wonder where my brother is," the protester said. "I told you what I need. Can you find out where he is?"

"No," the officer replied.

He asks another officer, who tells him his brother is being processed and would be out shortly after being issued a desk appearance ticket. The protester asks what his brother was charged with, and the officer responds that his brother could tell him. The officer then walks toward the precinct.

Another protester tells police they'll keep protesting.

"You guys are trying to stop us, but it won't happen. It won't happen. We will keep going."

Chants of "Black Lives Matter!" then break out.

Marches opposing police brutality have taken place throughout the country following the May 25 death of George Floyd, which four former Minneapolis police officers were charged in connection to. Ex-officer Derek Chauvin faces a second-degree murder charge.

Chauvin and his wife, Kellie May Chauvin, were each charged Wednesday with nine counts of felony tax fraud.