PHOENIX – Businesses in the Scottsdale and Camelback Roads area were looted and vandalized on Saturday night. The area is the heart of the high-end shopping and entertainment district.
Scottsdale Police advised the public that unlawful assembly has been declared after large groups appeared to damage and loot a number of stores in and around Scottsdale Fashion Square.
i am so fucking angry abt scottsdale fashion square being looted. it was not part of BLM phx metro (black-led + protesting downtown). jake paul + his other rich white friends are capitalizing off of this for attention + notoriety while doing nothing to support the actual movement
— aditi/ BLM (@tiredsocialism) May 31, 2020
Officials said anyone who refused to leave the area risks arrest.
The Apple store was broken into, but there was nothing for them to loot.
Some property damage to businesses in the area of Fashion Square Mall. Camelback Rd, Scottsdale Rd, Goldwater Bl closed to vehicle traffic. Avoid the area. pic.twitter.com/Aa0kZP58cd
— ScottsdalePD (@ScottsdalePD) May 31, 2020
Scottsdale Police Department Public Information Officer Bryan Reynolds sparked outrage when he appeared to dismiss the seriousness of the situation in a television interview. He implied that the Department would essentially stand down due to the fact that the rioters actions were “disturbing” but only involved “property damage.”
This cannot stand. Protests like what happened in Phoenix tonight seemed to go off well. Tonight’s events in Scottsdale are reprehensible and cannot stand. Time for the National Guard to be fully activated.
— T.J. Shope (@TJShopeforAZ) May 31, 2020
UPDATE:
GOD BLESS OUR POLICE AND FIRE:
Just in from PD:
I wanted to provide some preliminary numbers regarding last night's events. Even at this hour, there is quite an undertaking by employees to process individuals who were arrested and booked. Below is a preliminary break down: pic.twitter.com/IsKGBbTvuE— Sal DiCiccio (@Sal_DiCiccio) May 31, 2020