Four more people who were arrested in the days surrounding the Democratic National Convention have been acquitted.
Jurors on Thursday acquitted three protesters accused of blocking a street during the first day of the convention Aug. 25 but told the men they hoped the three had learned their lesson.
“Our verdict does not absolve you of the obligation to behave in a more lawful and responsible manner in the future,” jury forewoman Julia Bucher told Michael Loeffler, 23, of Maryland, Justin Whitaker, 20, and Jeffrey Labow, 21, both of West Virginia.
In another case, a judge acquitted Matthew Schmitt, 21, of Kansas, of disobeying an order from police who were questioning him about plans for protest activities.
Hometowns weren’t listed in online court records.
More than 150 people were arrested in Denver between Aug. 23 and Aug. 28 in disturbances related to the convention. Prosecutors have said about half resolved their cases by pleading guilty.
Others are contesting their charges. Nearly 60 cases are set for trials through January.
Among cases set for trial beginning last week, eight have been dismissed by the city attorney, three have been acquitted by juries, two were acquitted by judges and one faces retrial after a jury was unable to reach a verdict.
Defense attorneys for the three men acquitted by jurors Thursday had argued that city attorneys failed to present any witnesses who observed the men committing a crime.
Assistant City Attorney Vincent DiCroce countered that the three became lawbreakers when they stayed with an estimated 200 to 300 people in the street after police ordered them to leave. The group had no permit for a parade or protest on the street.
Denver police Sgt. Anthony Foster said the crowd was acting “very aggressively toward law enforcement.” “This was a large mob of individuals charging at us, yelling, ‘Take back the streets.’ It appeared that hell was coming,” he said.
DiCroce and police said the group was ordered to disperse, but several legal observers testified that they didn’t hear the orders.
