Jefferson Square Park cleared of tents, will close at 11 p.m. every night

WLKY NEWS AS A RESULT OF THE CHAOS SATURDAY NIGHT AT JEFFERSON SQUARE LMPD WILL BEGIN ENFORCING A CITY ORDINANCE BANNING TENSE CAMPING EQUIPMENT AND OVERNIGHT STAYS IN CITY PARKS, JEFFERSON SQUAR PARK WILL BE CLOSING EACH NIGHT. AT 11:00 AND WILL REOPEN AT 6:00 IN THE MORNING. NOW. THIS IS A LIVE LOOK RIGHT NOW FROM WLKY CHOPPER HD YOU CAN SEE THERE ARE STILL A LOT OF PEOPLE DOWN THERE AT JEFFERSON SQUARE PARK AND THERE IS A POLICE ALSO THAT HAVE BEEN BLOCKING OFF SOME STREETS. WE ARE TOLD ANY PROPERTY LEFT THERE OVERNIGHT WILL BE CONSIDERED ABANDONED AND WILL BE REMOVED. THERE ARE STILL CLEARLY HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE AND CARS STILL DOWN THERE POLICE ALSO SAY IT FAILURE TO LEAVE THE PARK CAN RESULT IN A CRIMINAL TRESPASS CHARGE OF COURSE, WE’LL CONTINUE TO KEEP YOU UPDATED ON THE SCENE DOWN THERE. MEANWHILE, OUR CAMERAS WERE ROLLING AS METRO PUBLIC WORKS CREWS WERE OUT SUNDAY MORNING CLEARING THE PARK. IT’S BEEN THE CENTRAL LOCATION WHERE PROTESTERS MEET TO MARCH FOR JUSTICE FOR BRIANNA TAYLOR AND OTHERS FOR MORE THAN A MONTH AND COUNTING NOW LMPD HAS SET UP A LOCATION WHERE PEOPLE CAN COME AND CLAIM ANY OF THOSE BELONGINGS LEFT AT JEFFERSON SQUARE. THIS IS VIDEO FROM EARLIER THIS AFTERNOON. IT’S 600 MERIWETHER AVENUE WHERE PEOPLE HAVE BEEN ADVISED TO COME RETRIEVE THEIR PROPERTY THE KENTUCKY ALLIANCE AGAINST RACIST AND POLITICAL REPRESSION IS UPSET WITH HOW LMPD HANDLED THIS SITUATION CO-CHAIR. TYLER WALKER SAID SHE’S HAD REGULAR DIALOGUE WITH LMPD AND BELIEVES. THEY COULD HAVE ARRANGED A BETTER WAY TO CLEAR OUT THE PARK. I’M VERY DISAPPOINTED BECAUSE THEY SAID THEY WERE TRYING TO BUILD RELATIONSHIPS. AND THIS HOW YOU BUILD A RELATIONSHIP BY THROWING OUT THINGS IN THE TRIAD? NOW MAYOR FISCHER TWEETED OUT AN APOLOGY TO THOSE WHOSE BELONGINGS WERE TREATED POORLY. HE SAID IT WAS A MISCOMMUNICATION AND NOT THE CITY’S INTENT A CLAIM FORM HAS BEEN SET

Metro Public Works cleared tents out of Jefferson Square Park early Sunday after a deadly shooting on Saturday night. Officers were sent to the 600 block of West Jefferson Street on a report of shooting around 9 p.m. Saturday. When officers arrived, they found two victims suffering from gunshot wounds.The coroner identified the man killed as Tyler Gerth, 27. The second victim was taken to a hospital with non-life threatening injuries. Video below was provided by Isaiah Collins, who was near the scene when it happened. In the video, the man is seen firing more than a dozen shots into the crowd, sending people scrambling to take cover:Officials said peaceful gatherings can continue during the day but no one will be allowed to stay overnight."We continue to support the peaceful exercise of free speech. However, our primary focus must be on public safety," LMPD said.Officials said if you left anything at the park, you can pick it up at 600 Meriwether Avenue later Sunday. During a press conference, Chief Robert Shroeder, issued an apology for how protester's belongings were handled and damaged as crews removed them."It was not our intention to damage anything that was removed, however many of the items were treated in a manner less than our standards. The way that property was handled has also caused concern within the community, and I am deeply sorry. We will work in the future to help prevent a situation like this from occurring again."The Kentucky Alliance Against Racist and Political repression is upset with how LMPD handled the situation. Co-chair Tyra Walker said she's had a regular dialogue with police and believes they could have arranged a better way to clear out the park.According to Facebook post from Mayor Greg Fischer, Metro Government is letting protesters fill out a claim form to be reimbursed for lost or damaged property. If property damage is claimed, citizens will need provide a picture along with two estimates from reputable business firms that perform repair work. Police say they will begin closing the park each night at 11 p.m. until it reopens at 6 a.m. Any property left overnight will be considered abandoned and will be removed. All areas of the park must be kept clear for daily mowing and cleaning. Jefferson Square Park has become a central location for protests in the past month. Earlier in the day, there was hundreds in the area and marching around downtown for the 31st day. Until the shooting, LMPD said protests had been peaceful.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. —

Metro Public Works cleared tents out of Jefferson Square Park early Sunday after a deadly shooting on Saturday night.

Officers were sent to the 600 block of West Jefferson Street on a report of shooting around 9 p.m. Saturday. When officers arrived, they found two victims suffering from gunshot wounds.

The coroner identified the man killed as Tyler Gerth, 27. The second victim was taken to a hospital with non-life threatening injuries.

Video below was provided by Isaiah Collins, who was near the scene when it happened. In the video, the man is seen firing more than a dozen shots into the crowd, sending people scrambling to take cover:

Officials said peaceful gatherings can continue during the day but no one will be allowed to stay overnight.

"We continue to support the peaceful exercise of free speech. However, our primary focus must be on public safety," LMPD said.

Officials said if you left anything at the park, you can pick it up at 600 Meriwether Avenue later Sunday.

During a press conference, Chief Robert Shroeder, issued an apology for how protester's belongings were handled and damaged as crews removed them.

"It was not our intention to damage anything that was removed, however many of the items were treated in a manner less than our standards. The way that property was handled has also caused concern within the community, and I am deeply sorry. We will work in the future to help prevent a situation like this from occurring again."

The Kentucky Alliance Against Racist and Political repression is upset with how LMPD handled the situation. Co-chair Tyra Walker said she's had a regular dialogue with police and believes they could have arranged a better way to clear out the park.

According to Facebook post from Mayor Greg Fischer, Metro Government is letting protesters fill out a claim form to be reimbursed for lost or damaged property.

If property damage is claimed, citizens will need provide a picture along with two estimates from reputable business firms that perform repair work.

Police say they will begin closing the park each night at 11 p.m. until it reopens at 6 a.m. Any property left overnight will be considered abandoned and will be removed. All areas of the park must be kept clear for daily mowing and cleaning.

Jefferson Square Park has become a central location for protests in the past month. Earlier in the day, there was hundreds in the area and marching around downtown for the 31st day. Until the shooting, LMPD said protests had been peaceful.

Jefferson Square Park cleared of tents, will close at 11 p.m. every night

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