Unlawful Assembly Investigations

Published on June 5, 2020

Huntsville Police is currently conducting multiple investigations into criminal activity that occurred during the unlawful assembly downtown this past Wednesday night. The North Alabama Multi-Agency Crime Center (NAMACC) and Criminal Investigations Center (CID) have been reviewing evidence and other material for these investigations.

Today, we have arrested 52 yr old Patrick Joseph McCool for disorderly conduct. This criminal charge is for acts that evening that involved picking up and throwing one of the chemical agent containers at police. During the course of deploying the chemical agent as trained, the offender ran towards the canister to intercept and throw it back. HPD personnel are trained to deploy the chemical agent in a safe and controlled manner so as not to injure or cause any further physical contact beyond the scope of it’s design.

At the time, the chemical agent was activated and being used to assist in dispersing an unlawful assembly that had already displayed evidence of civil disobedience as well as dangers to public safety. This civil disobedience prior to the deployment included threats at police, throwing of objects, refusal to vacate a roadway for traffic flow, refusal to disperse under a lawful order, as well as other intelligence gathered throughout the course of the unlawful assembly.

HPD will always support the citizens right to peacefully protest but will hold those accountable that violate any other citizen’s constitutional rights.