INDIANAPOLIS — A portion of Lafayette Road on the near northwest side of Indianapolis was briefly shut down during a protest Saturday evening.
According to social media posts from IMPD, around 5:15 p.m. on Dec. 30, police responded to a disturbance in the 1700 block of Lafayette Road. Officers asked the public to avoid the area temporarily so police could investigate.
Around 6:30 p.m., IMPD posted an update on social media, along with photos showing what appeared to be a sizable group of protesters shutting down Lafayette Road from 16th Street to Cold Springs Road.
IMPD Lt. Shane Foley told 13News that the protest stemmed from a situation in the African country of Eritrea.
By 7 p.m., IMPD officers had dispersed the protesters and reopened Lafayette Road. IMPD later released an additional statement on social media reminding citizens that blocking or obstructing traffic is against the law and can result in arrest.
About an hour after law enforcement's initial response, IMPD said they had detained two people as a result of the incident. Around 9 p.m., IMPD announced they had made another arrest, bringing the total number of people taken into custody to three.