Assault, resisting arrest charges against ICE demonstrator dropped
HAMILTON- Charges of assaulting a police officer and resisting arrest filed against a West Milton woman who was arrested during a recent ICE demonstration held at the Butler County Jail have been dropped.
Cayley Baker, 26, of West Milton, was arrested during a demonstration at the Butler County Jail on Sunday, June 8, and charged with assaulting a police officer, resisting arrest, disorderly conduct, obstructing official business, and failure to disclose personal information. Following her arrest, Baker was held at the Butler County Jail and later released on $5,025 bond, according to Hamilton Municipal Court documents.
Jonathan Fox, a lawyer representing Baker, said the case was resolved during a hearing held on Tuesday, June 24, with the charges of assaulting an officer (a 4th degree felony) and failure to disclose being dropped. Baker plead guilty to the lesser charges of disorderly conduct and obstructing official business, according to Hamilton Municipal Court records, receiving two years of supervised community control for each charge. Baker also received a suspended jail sentence of 30 days for the disorderly conduct charge, and 90 days for obstructing official business.
During the demonstration on June 8, a crowd of approximately 500 individuals gathered outside the Butler County Correctional Complex, according to a Facebook posting from the Butler County Sheriff’s Office. Demonstrators gathered at the jail to voice opposition to recent Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrests and the detention of Emerson Colindres, a local soccer player who recently graduated from high school. The protest was organized by the Cincinnati Socialists organization.
“The Butler County Sheriff’s Office deployed personnel to maintain order, ensure public safety, and monitor the protest,” the Sheriff’s Office posting, dated Monday, June 9, said. “While the majority of attendees demonstrated peacefully, several individuals unlawfully entered the roadway, obstructing traffic and creating a safety hazard. One individual was arrested by the Hamilton Police Department and faces multiple charges.”
No property damage was reported during the protest, and no other arrests were made, the posting said. “The First Amendment protects the right to peaceful protest, and we will always defend that right,” Butler County Sheriff Richard K. Jones said in the Facebook posting. “However, when individuals break the law or endanger others, they will be dealt with swiftly and according to the law. Public safety and the rule of law are non-negotiable.”
“The Butler County Sheriff’s Office remains firmly committed to upholding public order and enforcing the law while safeguarding the rights and safety of all members of the community,” the posting said. According to a Hamilton Police Department arrest report on the incident, Baker was accused of stepping in front of a police officer and spanning her arms to the side in an effort to block him from apprehending another male demonstrator, who then escaped into the crowd.
The officer “attempted to move Cayley to the side by lightly pushing against the side of her arm and shoulder,” the arrest report said. “Cayley pushed back, striking the officer in the chest/torso area with both hands. At this point, she dramatically fell to the ground screaming, further blocking officers.” According to the report, Baker also “harshly pushed” a second police officer before her arrest and refused to give her personal information.
“In handcuffs, (Baker) further resisted being placed into the back of the cruiser, and had to be lifted and placed in laterally,” the arrest report said. Following Baker’s arrest, a group of approximately 30 demonstrators returned to protest at the jail again on Monday, June 9, demanding her release. No arrests were reported during that demonstration.
