Video shows broken windows at three Highland Square businesses in Akron
Windows broken late Wednesday night by protestors in Akron. Wally Waffle, IRIE Jamaican Kitchen and Chipotle all have damage in Highland Square. pic.twitter.com/6SiV1POfG5
— Mike Vielhaber (@MVielhaber) April 20, 2023
Windows were broken at three businesses in Highland Square late Wednesday.
Video from Beacon Journal partner News 5 Cleveland showed broken windows at Wally Waffle, Irie Jamaican Kitchen and Chipotle. The video clearly depicts a rock had been thrown into Wally Waffle and Chipotle.
News 5 also reported that the Evans building on Exchange Street in downtown Akron also had one window damaged overnight, noting that it was one of the few downtown buildings that wasn't boarded up.
The Beacon Journal has reached out to Akron police for more information.
A window at Canal Park, home of the Akron RubberDucks minor league baseball team, was also broken. RubberDucks spokesman Jimmy Farmer said one window was broken at 3 a.m. Thursday.
Akron Mayor Dan Horrigan was seen Thursday taking a stroll along South Main Street. He declined to comment on incidents that occurred across the city overnight.
It was not immediately known if the damage was connected to a protest Wednesday on Copley Road that was dispersed around 8:10 p.m. by Akron police and Summit County deputies after they declared the march was an unlawful assembly.
The police action took place while at least 100 people and numerous vehicles took part in the march protesting the grand jury decision in the police shooting death of Jayland Walker. Protesters had blocked traffic at a few intersections for as long as 15 minutes.
According to protesters and reporters from other local outlets, including Spectrum News 1 OH and Ideastream Public Media, the protest was peaceful and nonviolent, and children were present when police and deputies began using the chemical spray.
The city said that the assembly was declared unlawful and orders to disperse were issued because "officers were having bottles thrown at them from marchers."
Summit county sheriffs and Akron police started pepper spraying and tear gassing a group of non-violent protesters, the group included children. pic.twitter.com/JNbxW1cmrO
— Kristen Anzuini (@kanzuini) April 20, 2023
At approximately 7:57pm officers were having bottles thrown at them from marchers. That's when the orders to disperse were given.
— City of Akron, Ohio (@AkronOhioMayor) April 20, 2023
Wednesday's march in Akron: Akron police, deputies use chemical spray at protest, report objects thrown at officers
Chipotle service manager Tim Gunter said Thursday morning that the restaurant had already closed by around 2 p.m. Wednesday because of a water line break.
In a work group chat around 9 p.m. Wednesday, one of the employees said a window was broken. Employees found two rocks inside the restaurant.
"We came in, and we just started cleaning up glass," Gunter said.
Gunter said the restaurant will be open today, as its water service has been restored.
Employees at Wally Waffle and Irie Jamaican Kitchen declined to speak to a reporter.
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Broken windows at Wally Waffle, Irie Jamaican Kitchen and Chipotle
