Akron drops protest-related charges against Bianca Austin, Breonna Taylor's aunt
Akron has dismissed protest-related charges against Bianca Austin, the aunt of Breonna Taylor, who was shot and killed in March 2020 in a botched police raid in Louisville, Ky.
Austin is one of four well-known, out-of-state activists who was arrested last summer tied to the protests of Jayland Walker’s shooting by Akron officers. She was scheduled to go on trial Wednesday in Akron Municipal Court.
More:Pepper spray, excessive-force claims: What happened during the Jayland Walker Akron protests
Austin, 41, of Louisville, Ky., was originally charged with rioting, a first-degree misdemeanor, and disorderly conduct and failure to disperse, both minor misdemeanors.
Judge Jon Oldham dismissed the rioting charge, saying prosecutors failed to list the required elements of the offense. This left the two minor misdemeanors, which would have been decided with a bench trial.
Prosecutors instead opted to dismiss the remaining charges.
Stephanie Marsh, a spokeswoman for Akron, said Austin’s case wasn’t ready for trial but the prosecutor’s office could refile charges in the future.
Michael Harris, another well-known activist arrested during the Walker protests, was acquitted in an Akron jury trial last month.
More:Not guilty: Well-known activist acquitted of charges stemming from Jayland Walker protest
Jacob Blake Sr., who was arrested alongside Harris, is scheduled for trial March 27. Blake’s son was paralyzed in a police shooting in Wisconsin.
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Akron dismisses protest-related charges against Breonna Taylor's aunt
