The New York Post reports, a Virginia Police Chief broke down during a press conference as he recounted rioters torching a home with a child inside, saying that it was “unacceptable.”
During the press conference Richmond Police Chief Will Smith, overcome with emotion, told how protesters blocked the fire department from responding to a house that rioters set on fire while people, including a child, were inside the home.
“They prohibited us from getting on scene. We had to force our way to make a clear path for the fire department,” Smith said at a press conference.
Smith said there was a child in the home at the time of the fire.
“Officers were able to help those people out of the house. We were able to get the fire department there safely,” Smith said before pausing again to regain composure.
He condemned the protesters who took violent measures, saying their behavior was “unacceptable.”
“When you take a legitimate issue and hijack it for unknown reasons, that is unacceptable to me. It’s unacceptable to the Richmond Police Department and unacceptable to the City of Richmond.”
“Protesters intentionally set a fire to an occupied building on Broad Street,” Smith continued. “This is not the only occupied building that has been set fire to in the last two days.”
“We have people from across the country who have traveled many states to be here. We know that this is an organized effort,” Smith said.