Fort Worth police say protest leader elbowed officers; attorney says arrest unjustified
Fort Worth police arrested a leader of the protest group Enough is Enough on June 13 because they say he elbowed or otherwise blocked the path of three officers on bicycles, according to the arrest warrant.
Lucid Shinobi, 23, has been an outspoken leader of the organization that has planned demonstrations against police brutality in Fort Worth for several weeks. On June 13, Fort Worth police arrested Shinobi and two other protesters during a march downtown. Shinobi was charged with three counts of interference with public duties. He and his attorney, Chris Tolbert, are fighting the charges, and Tolbert said Shinobi’s arrest was “unjustified” and “erroneous.”
During a protest on June 11, Shinobi stood in the way of three police officers who were riding bikes while providing traffic control, according to his arrest warrant obtained by the Star-Telegram. As the first officer rode toward Shinobi, Shinobi allegedly stepped forward and used his left shoulder to block and make contact with the officer. A second and third officer followed, and Shinobi similarly extended his left elbow to collide with the officers, the warrant says.
None of the officers fell from their bikes, but they had to “make an effort to maintain (their) balance” on the bikes, police said.
Tolbert said police use inference with public duties charges — such as the ones against Shinobi — when “they don’t have anything else.”
“That particular charge is not an uncommon charge where there is not really a justifiable arrest,” he said.
The arrest warrant says Shinobi was previously arrested for “participation in riot activities” on May 31. Dozens of protesters were arrested that night after police used tear gas to disperse them from the West 7th Street Bridge.
“Shinobi has continued to take an active role in disruptive activities that hinder police in their attempts to keep and maintain peace during protests,” the warrant says.
Fort Worth Police Chief Ed Kraus announced charges against those accused of rioting on May 31 would be dropped, unless they were also charged with others crimes like vandalism or assault. Tolbert said Shinobi’s riot participation charge is supposed to be dropped, but the matter is still pending.
Even if all charges are dropped, Tolbert said, that does not erase the trauma that comes from being arrested, especially for a Black man. And the arrest will still show up on his record unless it is expunged.
“The police or the police department dismiss the charges, but that’s not the end of the story for most of these folks,” he said. “There is still some consequential damage.”
The arrest scared Shinobi and caused psychological damage, Tolbert said. He also will likely have a scar over his eye from his arrest on the bridge. In a previous interview with the Star-Telegram, Shinobi said an officer hit him in the face while he was being arrested.
Tolbert is part of a group of attorneys in Tarrant County who are working on the protesters’ cases pro bono.
