The Monrovia City Court, under Magistrate Ben Barco, has ordered the detention of several protesters affiliated with the Congress for Democratic Change (CDC) in connection with a violent riot that occurred on August 22, 2023.
The detainees face multiple charges, including attempted murder.
Court records indicate that the defendants were involved in the riot near the CDC headquarters in Congo Town.
The unrest began around 9 AM and continued until 2PM, during which the protesters blocked Tubman Boulevard with tires, sticks, and other debris.
When officers from the Liberia National Police (LNP) arrived to disperse the crowd, the protesters allegedly responded by throwing stones, causing injuries to both law enforcement personnel and civilians.
The LNP reported that sixteen officers from the Police Support Unit (PSU) were injured in the confrontation. Among them, Sylvester Lavelah and Jallah M. Japolo were critically wounded and are receiving treatment at the John F. Kennedy Medical Center.
Officers Mabutu A. Wiles and Daniel Whennie from the Liberia Drugs Enforcement Agency (LDEA) also sustained head and neck injuries.
Several civilians, including Doris Dolley, Hannah Gwua, and Cheston Ziah, were also injured.
The rioters caused significant property damage, affecting vehicles such as a Toyota Rav-4 belonging to senior police officer Robert Saah, a Toyota Corolla driven by Mohammed Kamara, and a white JMC Co-Star bus owned by LTC staff. The estimated damage is around US$10,000.
The court’s decision to detain the protesters reflects the seriousness of the charges and the impact of the riot on the community and law enforcement.
