Fact check: Police did destroy a medic area during protests in Asheville, North Carolina

The claim: Asheville, NC, police destroyed a medical station during Tuesday night's protest

After protests in Asheville, North Carolina, social media posts that show law enforcement busting water bottles went viral. 

The incident Tuesday was caught on video and described by a medic volunteer.

The protest marked the third day of demonstrations in Asheville in response to the death of a black man, George Floyd, in the custody of Minneapolis police officers.

What happened?

Video by the Citizen Times shows Asheville police officers in riot gear and holding shields forming a protective circle around officers stomping and stabbing water bottles. Other officers destroyed medical supplies such as bandages and saline solution.

Sean Miller, a UNC-Asheville student who is head of communication for the medical team, said the 10-12 medics present were all clearly marked as such and did not provoke police in any way.

"A few minutes after 8 o'clock, we saw a SWAT team coming at us," Miller said. "They immediately, when they approached, they said, 'We're Asheville Police Department, and you guys need to leave.' They grabbed us by the shoulders and pushed out of the alleyway where we were trying to provide medical support."

She said they had a verbal agreement with APD to be present, even after curfew.

Some of the medics had bruises and felt the effects of tear gas, but no one was seriously injured. They lost at least $700 in supplies, Miller said.

Officers didn't give them an explanation for the destruction, she said.

Glenna Grant, 33, said she witnessed the officers destroy water bottles and medical supplies. Grant said she and others set up the medical center and did not plan to protest but rather provide a safe space for anyone injured during the night.

Grant said officers "hit them with shields” and took several people to the ground.

“We had eye wash, sutures, EMTs and doctors,” Grant said. “They threw several people to the ground. We were thrown, shouted at, screamed at and treated like criminals. No one resisted.”

Jon Jones, who works with the medical team, said police struck down a peaceful operation, and "those actions are inexcusable." 

"All of those officers took an oath to stand and protect the people, and there's no room for error in that," he said. 

Did the city have an explanation? 

In a Facebook post Wednesday, Mayor Esther Manheimer acknowledged the incident, which occurred at 8:14 p.m. in a small alley off the main public square  downtown.

"I am aware of the incident involving officers destroying the medical supplies of demonstrators, including water bottles, food and other supplies," Manheimer wrote. "Council has asked for an explanation of why that occurred.

"We are a city that cares, and I want to thank all of our officers who have taken a knee and worked to protect us," Manheimer continued. "But this was a disappointing moment in an otherwise peaceful evening."

Around 4:30 p.m. Wednesday, Police Chief David Zack issued a statement, explaining the officers were destroying potential projectiles at an unpermitted medical station. He said the medical crew received multiple warnings.

"We apologize for not being able to confiscate these supplies last night," Zack said in a news release. "Over the past three days, APD has tried to eliminate objects that can be thrown at protesters and law enforcement. Because water bottles, in particular, have been continuously used over the last three nights, officers destroyed them. Officers also searched for potentially dangerous objects, such as explosives."

He said the medical station was on private property without permission of the owner.

Organizers respond

Miller disputes the chief's account, saying she was at the station starting at 4 p.m. June 2.

"We didn't receive a single warning," she said. "They didn't warn us whatsoever."

She also said the mention of explosives was perplexing.

"There were absolutely no explosives within the medical area. None," Miller said. "No fireworks, nothing that could even be perceived as dangerous."

Miller did acknowledge that they inadvertently set up on private property June 2 without the property owner's permission. They had spoken with management of the nearby restaurants and thought that was sufficient, she said, but they "didn't have the awareness that there was a separate company that owned the entire property."

Our ruling: True

Based on reporting from the scene of protests and statements from the APD and Asheville's mayor, we rate this claim as TRUE. 

Fact-check sources:

• David Thompson, video of Glenna Grant
• Asheville Mayor Esther Manheimer, Facebook post
• Asheville Police Department, statement posted on Twitter
• Ashville Citizen Times, Mayor Manheimer wants explanation of police destruction of medical station

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