A woman, who had taken her 2-year-old child to the Arizona State Capitol to protest against immigration enforcement, was arrested for allegedly damaging a DPS drone by throwing a bottle at it, as per court documents.
According to court documents, a DPS trooper witnessed 31-year-old Shayla Fermic throwing a bottle that struck the drone, causing it to crash to the ground.
Around 9 p.m., the group reached the Capitol after marching through downtown Phoenix. They chanted slogans and held signs advocating for immigration. The crowd, estimated to be between 500-1,000 people, included individuals who set off fireworks. To disperse the crowd, authorities issued orders to vacate the Capitol in both Spanish and English, aided by a DPS drone that hovered overhead. According to court documents, Fermic was observed by a trooper throwing a bottle at the drone.
According to official documents, she resisted arrest in a non-violent manner when she was detained. At the time, she was accompanied by her 2-year-old son, who was subsequently handed over to his father’s custody.
According to court documents, officials stated that the bottle was discovered in close proximity to where the drone had crashed. It was noted that the bottle had cuts that were consistent with being struck by a propeller blade.
Fermic was apprehended and is now being charged with the crime of criminal damage, which is considered a felony offense.
According to officials, the crowd scattered shortly after.