Organizer of anti-police-shooting protest cited by Fresno police

Fresno police have cited the organizer of Saturday’s anti-police-shooting protest as he left a Wednesday protest rally in downtown Fresno, Sgt. Tony Bustos said.

Justice Medina, 20, was given a citation for violating city code as protesters took to the streets Saturday and caused Fresno police to shut down major north Fresno avenues.

Police located Medina after the Police Department’s Traffic and Special Events Bureau sought a warrant for his arrest.

Bustos said that prior to the start of Saturday’s protest, Capt. Andrew Hall and Lt. Richard Tucker told Medina that streets should not be blocked, given the organizer had not received a city permit.

Police say Medina disobeyed officers’ orders and encouraged the protesting group to block the intersection at Blackstone and Shaw avenues.

An estimated 500 protesters marched through Fresno streets Saturday and at one point, some of those protesters attempted to enter Highway 41 through an onramp at Bullard Avenue. The brief attempt by protesters turned into a shoving match with California Highway Patrol officers.

Bustos said Medina cooperated with officers Wednesday and was given the citation in lieu of a $20,000 bail.

This story was originally published July 13, 2016 at 11:07 PM with the headline "Organizer of anti-police-shooting protest cited by Fresno police."