Grove City Police arrested an Ohio congressional candidate at a "No Kings" protest Saturday when he attempted to give a speech using a megaphone.
In social media video posted online, Don Leonard is seen giving a speech to a crowd of dozens of people from the bed of a truck when police approach him. Police took his megaphone and then asked him to step toward two police cars to be interviewed, which he refused to do.
"The instructions that I'm giving to you right now are to walk over here," one officer said as he gestured toward two police cars. "Those are my instructions to you."
"I am disobeying those instructions," Leonard said.
Police then arrested Leonard, who is a former Ohio State University professor. Charging documents obtained by WOSU say Leonard was given a citation for violating the city's noise ordinance at 2 p.m. Saturday and charged with obstructing official business.
Leonard was released from jail on the same day.
Leonard told WOSU on Monday he was the first person who was set to speak on Saturday afternoon. He said he was not even a minute into his speech when he was confronted by police.
Leonard is critical of police for arresting him, arguing the protest was on a public sidewalk and wasn't obstructing any streets. He did say police were respectful and professional during the process.
"At what point do First Amendment rights end and noise ordinance laws begin? That's a question for us to have as a community," Leonard said.
An arrest report obtained by WOSU said Leonard was asked to step aside to be interviewed about violating the noise ordinance. At that time, police took away the megaphone and placed it in the front seat of one of the police cruisers.
The report said when that happened, a crowd formed and criticized police for stopping Leonard and followed the officers while filming video. Police said they asked Leonard if he or any protest organizers read Grove City's noise ordinance rules. Police said Leonard replied that he was "just doing his First Amendment thing."
Police wrote in the report that the crowd started growing and that people were shouting insults at the officers. An officer asked Leonard to step away from the crowd and to be interviewed near a police car, but Leonard declined to do so.
The report said police were unable to issue Leonard a citation "due to officers being unable to continue an interview or gather further information from Leonard, as well as the safety concerns due to the gathering crowd which had become increasingly agitated by the officers' presence."
The report also said police then stopped Leonard from addressing the crowd and arrested him.
Officers arrested a second man, Chad Fields, for allegedly stepping in front of the officers' vehicle to block their path. Fields was charged with disorderly conduct and obstructing official business.
Leonard is running against former state Rep. and fellow Democrat Adam Miller in the May 5 primary. The winner will likely face incumbent Republican U.S. Rep. Mike Carey to represent much of downtown Columbus, southwestern Franklin County and parts of western Ohio reaching most of Miami County.
Carey faces a primary challenge from Republican Samuel Ronan.
Leonard was also at an earlier "No Kings" protest in German Village. Miller's campaign said Miller also attended "No Kings" events that day, but declined to comment on Leonard's arrest.
Leonard said Grove City Police didn't take issue with protestors at a previous "No Kings" protest in October, where participants also used a megaphone.
Carey's campaign didn't respond to a request for comment.
Leonard said he felt the situation escalated when several more police cars showed up. He said he felt his actions were protected by law and he will challenge the charges if the case moves forward.
"I felt as though I was well within my First Amendment rights to be giving a speech on a public sidewalk at a No Kings rally," Leonard said.
Leonard questioned why Grove City Police sent in additional cruisers after he was detained. He said police should have sent uniformed officers to the protest to work with organizers rather than arrest participants.
