Republican Convention: Ted Cruz: 'Vote Your Conscience' | 2 Cops Hurt in Flag Burning; 17 Arrests | Speechwriter Confesses

Cruz did not endorse Donald Trump.

Cheers and jeers erupted from delegates with Cruz's "vote your conscience" comment. At the same time, Trump entered the convention hall and stood with his sons and daughters. Cameras and attention turned away from Cruz and focused on Trump as Cruz spoke.

Trump gave a thumbs up and grinned at Cruz.

Cruz urged Republicans not to "stay home in November," but he didn't tell them who to vote for.

"Vote your conscience, vote for candidates up and down the ticket who you trust to defend our freedom and to be faithful to the Constitution," he said.

Cruz mentioned Trump's name just once in his 22-minute address: "I congratulate Donald Trump on winning the nomination last night."

In past conventions, the nominee has not made an appearance until the final day, but Trump came to the arena on Monday to introduce his wife and appeared in a video message on Tuesday. He's in the arena tonight watching his son Eric Trump, who followed Ted Cruz to the speaker's podium.

The New York delegation shouted "endorse Trump" at Cruz.

Later, former U.S. House Speaker Newt Gingrich came out and spoke to Cruz's statement, suggesting the Texas senator obviously meant that only Trump could uphold the Constitution, so everyone should vote for Trump.

After the speech, Cruz reportedly was yelled at by several Republican donors and a state party chairman who called him a "disgrace" to his face, reported Dana Bash for CNN from the convention floor.

» Read More: 'Vote Your Conscience' and The Other Words Ted Cruz Said at the GOP Convention and Ted Cruz Booed Off the Stage

After the arena emptied, Trump took to Twitter to slap Cruz.

Mike Pence Introduces Himself

The traditional conservative Indiana governor, Mike Pence, accepted the nomination for vice president, and when he was finished speaking, Donald Trump strode onto the stage, shook his hand, gave him a half-hug and a smooch.

Trump has appeared at every day of this convention, the first presidential nominee ever to do so. And why not? After all, he's the star of this reality show.

Pence joked that his lack of charisma and personality brought balance to the ticket.

17 Arrests on Wednesday at Flag Burning

A flag-burning protest led to 17 arrests Wednesday, including two individuals charged with felonious assault on a police officer. The others were charged with resisting arrest and failure to disperse.

"The individual that actually lit the flag lit himself on fire, and then as we were trying to put him out, and he's trying to push my officer away he actually got a couple other people lit on fire," Police Chief Calvin Williams said. The police officers injured during the flag-burning incident were punched and pushed, police said.

No members of the media were taken into custody, police said. Some of the people arrested or dispersed from the scene were counter-demonstrators who were trying to attack the flag burners.

The chief said the rest of the day proved to be relatively quiet.

» Read More: 2 Felony Arrests After Officers Punched in Flag-Burning Protest

Ted Cruz Sound Check

This afternoon, Ted Cruz took the stage for a brief sound check ahead of his primetime speech tonight. "Check, check ... I do not like green eggs and ham. I do not like them, Sam-I-Am." Mic drop.

The talking heads have been speculating all day about whether Cruz will drop a surprise endorsement of Donald Trump, who dubbed him Lyin' Ted during the primary and tweeted an insult about Cruz's wife. Cruz called Trump a "sniveling coward."

What will he say, everyone wonders. Would be kind of awesome if Cruz gets up there and just recites "Green Eggs and Ham" in its entirety and walks off.

Google Knows All

Google has a very large presence at the convention. This monitor on Media Row puts up various trends every few seconds related to the election.

CHP Officers on the March

Police officers from all over this great nation of ours are in Cleveland, sworn in as special police for the City of Cleveland, to help provide security. Today, we spotted a large contingent of California Highway Patrol officers, armed with rifles, walking from Public Square down West Superior Avenue.

$8,000 for 'Escort' Services

An escort in Cleveland says she's made $8,000 off Republican convention-goers so far. See, there is a boost to the local economy. (Although someone must not have read the "family values" portion of the GOP platform.)

2 Cops Hurt in Flag-Burning Scuffle

A small group of individuals with the Revolutionary Communists USA, intent on burning an American flag outside of The Q arena at East Fourth Street and Prospect, was stopped by police Wednesday around 4:20 p.m. A large number of police officers assembled in the area in a perimeter to divide the protesters.

The protesters shouted "America was never great," much as they did Tuesday when marching down East Fourth. Half of the people closest to the flag burning were news media holding their cameras aloft.

CNN reports as many as six people were seen on the curb with their hands cuffed. Cleveland Police said two officers sustained minor injuries in the encounter. The fire department also responded to the area.

Cleveland Police issued a "dispersal order" for that block and cleared the street of demonstrators and news media.

Also today, handcuffs and flexible zip-tie cuffs were added to the list of items banned from the convention zone by police.

The Donald Has Landed

Donald Trump made a movie-worthy arrival at the Great Lakes Science Center in Cleveland at 2:20 p.m. local time Wednesday, stepping off his helicopter with running mate Mike Pence to the strains of dramatic, regal music.

Check out the video:

video by Rick Uldricks | Patch.com

Earlier, Trump's plane flew over Cleveland as he arrived from New York. The plane actually flew over a "thank you" rally Ted Cruz was conducting outside, prompting Cruz to chuckle and point.

Speech Writer (Tries to) Fall on Her Sword

Meredith McIver, a Trump Organization staff writer who has written several books with Donald Trump, released a statement Wednesday taking blame for the blunder that has dominated the first two days of the GOP convention: Melania Trump's Monday night speech that bore a heavy resemblance to a speech Michelle Obama delivered to the Democratic National Convention in 2008.

McIver said she worked closely on the speech with Melania Trump, and, "a person (Melania Trump) has always liked is Michelle Obama."

McIver said she offered to resign, but the Trump family rejected her offer.

» Read More: Donald Trump Staff Writer Takes Blame For Melania Trump Speech Plagiarism and Melania Trump's Speech Controversy: Pish! Say GOP Delegates

Day 3: Mike Pence Speaks

Donald Trump's choice for vice president speaks to the convention Wednesday night. The theme for Wednesday's program is "Make America First Again."

Also speaking: radio host Laura Ingraham, businessman Phil Ruffin, Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi, retired astronaut Eileen Collins, Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker, U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas, son Eric Trump, and Newt Gingrich and his wife Calista.

Day 2 Coverage

Trump Made 'We Are the Champions' His Jam and Ignored Sony 'Request to Desist'

Melania Trump's Speech Controversy: Pish! Say GOP Delegates

'Finest Governor in the United States' ... is Bruce Rauner?

RNCinCLE Day 2: Roger Ailes Leaving Fox News? | A Baldwin Brother Touts Trump | Singing Cowboy Says 'Trump is Our Last Chance'

Day 1 Coverage

Melania Trump's Speech Cheat Exposed and Campaign's 'No Time for Losers' Moment Backfires

Benghazi Mom Rages at Hillary Clinton on GOP Convention's Opening Night

RNCinCLE Day 1: 'No Time for Losers' | Chris Christie's Anti-Christie | Benghazi Tears and Fury