The July 4 block party in North Charleston spiraled into violence, leaving two female officers with minor injuries and several people arrested. Authorities rounded up three adults and four juveniles, recovered a stolen Taser and loaded magazines, and say the probe is ongoing with more arrests possible.
Three adults and four juveniles were arrested after a mob-style assault on officers at a local block party. Police say 19-year-old Giovanni Mekhi Sincere Campbell faces a charge of possession of a machine gun, and 18-year-old Sa’Mya Adriana Collette Weaver faces charges of breach of peace and assault on police.
Investigators developed information pointing to 21-year-old Dejuan Ravenel in connection with the theft of a Taser and loaded gun magazines from one of the assaulted officers. Surveillance led to Ravenel leaving an apartment, entering a vehicle, and being followed to a restaurant where he was taken into custody, and a search warrant at the apartment turned up the stolen items.
The juveniles involved face a range of charges. Police said the juveniles face charges ranging from assault by mob (third degree), assault on police while resisting arrest, resisting arrest, and possession of a machine gun to breach of peace.
The gathering had been permitted as a neighborhood block party, and police say leadership met with organizers ahead of the event to go over traffic and safety plans. Despite those preparations, problems began when reports came in of gunfire and people discharging fireworks at passing vehicles.
Officers responded quickly and used repeated public announcements to tell attendees the event was over and to leave safely, in an effort to de-escalate. Even so, multiple fights erupted and additional gunshots were fired, prompting officers to exit patrol vehicles to restore order and protect the public.
During the response, “multiple firearms and a makeshift spear were recovered,” police said, and “multiple officers were physically assaulted, with two female officers sustaining minor injuries,” and “several attendees were arrested as a result of their own actions.” Authorities emphasized that attacks on officers will be treated seriously.
‘We just can’t do that. We can’t attack and jump on a police officer who was just trying to do her job and beat her like that, like a mob. That just can’t happen.’
The department said those responsible will face prosecution. “Attacks on law enforcement are unacceptable, and those responsible will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law,” police added, and also noted, “we especially thank those from the community who helped officers during the attacks.”
The following is cellphone video of the physical attacks on police:
Local reports put roughly 400 people at the scene near Chicora Community Park, where this same location had hosted similar gatherings without incident for about a decade. North Charleston Police Chief Ron Camacho reassured residents that the two injured officers “are fine. They’re working.”
Community advocate Elvin Speights said he was shaken after watching the video circulate online: “A lot of emotions. Ashamed. Disgraced. I’m very pleased that no one was seriously hurt. That could have gone really bad.” He also praised the restraint shown by officers: “I just wanted to give a huge shout-out to that officer who showed humongous restraint on not going out here and pulling her gun and start shooting. The North Charleston Police Department as a whole — no one was seriously hurt. They showed a lot of restraint.”
Camacho acknowledged the department had received intelligence that some juveniles planned to engage in fights using fireworks, but said they were overwhelmed by the scale of the outbreak. “We were not ready for this,” he said, and warned, “We need some help. We really do. We need some help from the community. Because stuff like this is getting dangerous.”
Camacho also described unruly juveniles as “the most difficult thing that I’ve had to deal with in my policing career.” The investigation remains active, police said, and additional arrests are possible as detectives follow leads and review footage.
