Protesters demand answers from West Mifflin council

They claim they were peacefully marching when a confrontation with police led to criminal charges.

Frustrations and grievances were aired during Tuesday’s West Mifflin council meeting regarding a demonstration Sunday over the death of Terrel “TJ” Byars Jr. .

Several people are facing charges after the protest near Kennywood Park in West Mifflin led to a confrontation with police that temporarily shut down Kennywood Boulevard.

Friends and family of Byars Jr. organized the protest, which began shortly after 1 p.m. at the Duquesne Police Department on South Second Street. The march was planned to end about two miles away at the Speedway at 4315 Kennywood Blvd.

Frustrations and grievances were aired during Tuesday’s West Mifflin council meeting regarding a demonstration Sunday over the death of Terrel “TJ” Byars Jr. Sarah Pellis / MVI

Byars, 13, died Dec. 27 after being struck by a vehicle in front of the Speedway. The Allegheny County Medical Examiner ruled the death an accident.

West Mifflin police Chief Gregory McCulloch told our news partners at WTAE that arrests were made after a confrontation broke out during the protest. He said pepper spray was used after people who were being removed by officers became aggressive.

An officer was injured during the incident but did not require hospitalization,

Frustrations and grievances were aired during Tuesday’s West Mifflin council meeting regarding a demonstration Sunday over the death of Terrel “TJ” Byars Jr. Sarah Pellis / MVI

McCulloch told WTAE.

McCulloch stated that Byars Jr.’s mother Nunu White requested the camera footage, but the video wasn’t available because the investigation has been turned over to the Allegheny County District Attorney’s office.

McCulloch said there’s a process behind the investigations that can take a long time. He declined to comment further on the investigation against the officers.

Solicitor Phil DiLucente said the investigation could go on for more than a year, with both Byars’ case and the incident at the protest. People who attended the council meeting said there should still be communication.

“There is no amount of what we can say or do to take away from this mother’s pain. I want everyone to understand because I see a lot of support for this grieving mother,” DiLucente said. “Borough council has a role, the district attorney has a role, the county police have a role. The investigation is ongoing. The processes and for procedure purposes, this council is not addressed minute by minute the investigation.”

Charges at protest

Several people charged in connection with the protest showed up at Tuesday’s meeting.

Terrel Dione Byars Sr., 36, of Pittsburgh is charged with obstructing administration of law or other government functions, resisting arrest, disorderly conduct and obstructing highways or other public passages.

Dominique Brown, 32, of Pittsburgh is charged with obstructing administration of law or other government functions, resisting arrest, disorderly conduct and obstructing highways or other public passages. Brown was released on her own recognizance.

Dnico Larry Perry-Ellis, 24, of Pittsburgh is charged with resisting arrest, disorderly conduct and obstructing highways or other public passages. He was released on his own recognizance.

Andre Clyde Campbell, 36, of Braddock is charged with obstructing administration of law or other government functions, disorderly conduct and obstructing highways or other public passages. Campbell posted $1,000 bail.

Ina Chanel Pierce, 34, of Bellevue, who is Byars Jr.’s godmother, is charged with obstructing administration of law or other government functions, disorderly conduct and obstructing highways or other public passages.

She was arrested and released on her own recognizance, and she spoke Wednesday with her husband Devon Matthew Archibald, 35, of Pittsburgh, who is charged with endangering the welfare of children, disorderly conduct and obstructing highways or other public passages.

“As we came into the West Mifflin Borough, immediately when I stepped foot into West Mifflin Borough, I was ambushed,” Pierce said. “I was pushed, I was shoved. Regardless of what he wore that day, I don’t want to be shoved.

“I didn’t scream, I didn’t holler when I asked him not to touch me. How would you feel if someone did that to your child or your wife? Why would they treat us like that? My kids could have lost their lives.”

Archibald, who posted $1,000 bail, said he was carrying the couple’s 1-year-old child during the protest when he was shoved and beaten. He asked borough council through tears why officers would try to hurt them when they were peacefully protesting.

Terrel’s relative Casey Byars said she was maced directly in the face, which scared her and caused her to be unable to see. She had to have water poured on her face.

“What occurred that day was horrific,” Casey said. “What occurred was not okay, and I’m here with everyone else to figure out what’s the next step. What are the next steps to take because that will not be our last protest, that will not be our last walk because we want justice and we want answers, and so far, we have not gotten any answers.”

West Mifflin police requested assistance from nearby departments, including Allegheny County Police, according to McCulloch, who said he has reached out to White.

“She has also spoken to individuals in the district attorney’s office,” McCulloch said. “Ms. White has been constantly updated. The district attorney will not allow (the protest video) to be seen until the investigation is completed. This has been explained to Ms. White over and over.”

White said the protest was intended to honor her son’s life and call for accountability and safer streets for the community.

“What happened to my son?” White asked council as she held up a poster of Terrel.

Community support

Several family, friends, community members and activists including the Black Women’s Policy Center, Inc. of McKeesport, the NAACP, the Alliance for Police Accountability, Take Action Advocacy Group in McKeesport and more attended the meeting to support White and the protesters.

Many were angry and were demanding answers for Byars along with an explanation for why the protest incident happened and what’s going to be done moving forward.

“First there is humanity. You have people in here talking to you about what happened to them. We don’t show any compassion, we don’t say I’m sorry that happened to you,” said Brandi Fisher, president of the Alliance for Police Accountability.

Community activist Denise Jones alleged that police jumped out of their cars, that children were maced and police were hostile in the police footage.

She also alleged that borough council members Dan Davis “had a smirk on his face” and Michael Moses smiled while the protest was being discussed.

Ingrid Eubanks with Halo Effect Consulting, LLC said she had concerns with the traffic, the child who was killed, that there has been no justice, no follow up with the mother or accountability with the individual who hit Byars, accountability with the police and more.

“It’s being swept under the rug and being disregarded,” Eubanks said. “This will never go away. As long as (White) is living and breathing, this will never go away. There will be justice to be served. There has been no accountability held on anybody’s end. We want to see accountability, we want to see justice served, we want answers.”

According to Eubanks, the protest was peaceful and officers were disrespectful. She added that no mother should have to go through this — stating that officials have to be held responsible for the acts that took place at the protest.

“You can speak to people, and you can show decency, but you know why you can’t? Because some of you don’t have it,” Fisher said. “Your officers need to be held accountable. You speak up for the people that keep you here. I’m disgusted and disheartened, and I’ve done this for 15 years. We don’t need a permit to protest. We have First Amendment rights that we can utilize.”

Moving forward

Following several talking points, shouting and demands for accountability, the borough council quietly ended the meeting without an audible motion to adjourn due to chatter in the room.

Kennywood has requested that a survey be done on Kennywood Boulevard, according to McCulloch, and PennDOT is being involved in the state road study. They originally met in January, and there is no timeline for the study.

Any individuals have the right to fill out a citizens complaint form, which is through the police department, said Mayor Chris Kelly. He said it would be premature on everybody’s part to assume anything.

“We have to gather all the information,” councilman Anthony Topolnak said. “This is the first time I’m hearing from (one) side. I haven’t heard from the police yet. We are just getting this information gathered. We have to review the information, and it can’t happen overnight, and I’m sorry that it can’t happen overnight. We’re going to try to do our best.”

Councilwoman Carla Payne-Harrison said she wants to see justice served and everything is going to be looked into thoroughly.

“I know you want answers, and we want to be able to give them to you, but it’s under investigation,” Payne-Harrison said. “When I tell you we have spoken about this and there is an investigation going on, nobody is sweeping this under the rug.

“I will speak for everyone, but everyone feels terrible about what happened to TJ. I understand why you guys are upset and wanted answers today, and you didn’t get them. I’m sorry we can’t give them to you. When we get the information, we will share it.”

A petition circulating online is calling for Kennywood Boulevard to be renamed in honor of Byars. There is also a fundraiser for Byars that had raised $12,974 as of press time Tuesday.

All defendants for the protest face preliminary hearings scheduled for 9 a.m. April 2 before Magisterial District Judge Richard Olasz Jr. No charges have been brought against the driver who fatally struck Byars.

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