Police: 4 charged after N. Phila. vigil turns violent

Four protesters were charged with assaulting Philadelphia police officers after a peaceful vigil Thursday night on Temple University's campus became violent.

The vigil, organizers said, was held at Broad Street and Cecil B. Moore Avenue to honor black women and children who were victims of police violence. But when the crowd saw SEPTA police arrest a man at Broad and Oxford Streets for an unrelated offense about 9:50 p.m., an altercation ensued.

Chananiah Maxwell, 23, of Upper Darby, was charged with aggravated assault. Three Philadelphia residents - Andrea Jacome, 23; Rafael Ross, 28; and Cynthia Miller, 61 - were charged with simple assault and related offenses.

As officers tried to prevent the crowd from interfering with the SEPTA arrest, police said, Maxwell threw a white plastic cup filled with an unknown red substance at a sergeant. It hit him in the face.

Maxwell resisted arrest, police said. She later complained of pain in her face and was taken to St. Joseph's Hospital for treatment.

A second officer suffered minor scratches to his left forearm caused by Jacome, police said.

Ross spit on an officer and fled, police said. Protesters surrounded officers as they attempted to arrest Ross. Miller swung and struck an officer, then hit a lieutenant in the back, police said.

Organizers with the Philadelphia Coalition for REAL Justice and Black Lives Matter Philly issued a statement Friday afternoon that accused police officers of heightening the tensions.

The vigil attracted about 30 people, said Taylor Johnson, 27, an organizer. Most held candles, and some wrote names in chalk on the sidewalk.

"They started provoking us," Johnson said. "They were grabbing people. They were mostly grabbing women."

She said her group was angered because a homeless man was arrested for not paying a $2.25 bus fare.

Kristin Geiger, a SEPTA spokeswoman, said a Route 16 driver reported an emergency when the unidentified man tried to board the bus.

"He refused to pay his fare," Geiger said. "Upon further investigation, it was discovered that he was wanted on a warrant."

Neither SEPTA nor Philadelphia police released the man's name.

After the arrests Thursday night, the crowd moved to the 22d District at 17th Street and Montgomery Avenue and demanded complaint forms.

Police said those were provided.

One protester used a bullhorn in the vestibule of the building and was told to use it while on the sidewalk. Another person returned to the door with the bullhorn and shouted.

A struggle ensued when officers tried to seize the bullhorn, police said. Three adults were issued citations.

The vigil organizers demanded Friday that all charges against their members be dropped.

215-854-2928 @MattGelb