BAKERSFIELD, Calif. — Though the Bakersfield Police Department said that Wednesday night's protests over the killing of George Floyd were peaceful, officers did respond to a series of incidents related the event.
Floyd died on Memorial Day after then Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin held a knee to Floyd’s neck for nearly nine minutes, likely causing his death. Chauvin has been charged with homicide, and three other officers have been charged with aiding and abetting a homicide. The incident has led to protests around the country and the world.
According to the BPD, officers investigated a traffic incident at 7:45 p.m. in which a red Jeep drove through an intersection and almost struck protesters who were kneeling in the roadway.
At 7:53 p.m. officers investigated a report of vandalism in the area of 23rd and H Street that is believed to have been a result of the protests. However, BPD did not provide additional details.
A little after 10 p.m., a driver in the 1700 block of Truxton Ave. reported that protesters attempted to open the door of their vehicle. Again, no additional details were provided.
Finally, at around 10:20 p.m., officers responded to a report of a pedestrian being struck in the 3100 block of California Ave. The driver of the car was traveling eastbound when he struck the pedestrian who was in the roadway outside a crosswalk.
"There was no report of any kind of altercation between the driver and the protestors prior to the collision, nor was there any report of the driver accelerating or making movements to indicate he was targeting the pedestrian," said the BPD statement.
The BPD did not state if the pedestrian was part of the protests that were taking place at the time.
The driver pulled into a nearby street and waited for the police to arrive. He was later taken to the police department for further investigation. However, at the time the driver "showed no signs of impairment" and speed doesdid not appear to be a factor in the accident. The driver was later released.
The BPD said at this time "the primary collision factor appears to be the pedestrian walking in the roadway outside of a crosswalk."
Anyone with information related to these investigations is encouraged to contact the Bakersfield Police Department at (661) 327-7111.
