Two female protesters at election demonstrations in Minnesota pointed a laser at one police officer’s eyes and kicked another in the groin, the Minneapolis Star-Tribune reported Saturday.
Amina T. Mussa McCaskill, 19, of Golden Valley, was arrested and charged Friday in Hennepin County District Court with one count of felony second-degree riot for the laser incident.
Thressa I. Johnson, 29, of Minneapolis, was charged Thursday in Hennepin County with one count each of fourth-degree assault and obstructing the legal process for the kicking incident. Both charges are gross misdemeanors, the outlet said.
County jail records showed as of late Friday, Mussa McCaskill was in custody and Johnson had been released from jail.
Police confronted a large number of protesters on Interstate 94 in Minneapolis Wednesday, according the charges against Mussa McCaskill.
Mussa McCaskill aimed a laser “directly” into a Minneapolis cop’s eyes as they stood in a line with other officers.
“Shining a laser into the eyes of officers has occurred at a number of protests around the country and is very dangerous to the officers,” the charges said. “Multiple officers in the United States have suffered significant damage to their vision as a result of being hit in the eyes with such a laser.”
The officer was wearing special safety glasses and was not injured. The officer identified Mussa McCaskill as the person who allegedly turned a laser on and off a few times.
A laser pointer was found on Mussa McCaskill, who admitted to her actions, the charges said.
More than 600 people were arrested after protesters blocked the interstate late Wednesday and early Thursday.