Grand jury indicts Kansas City police officer in connection with May protest on Plaza

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A Jackson County grand jury has indicted a Kansas City police officer who sprayed a juvenile protester in the face during George Floyd protests on the Country Club Plaza in May. Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker said Nicholas M. McQuillen, 38, faces a single misdemeanor count of fourth-degree assault.According to charging documents, the girl was with her father, siblings and friends on May 30 at protests along the Plaza. Protesters were on sidewalks while police lined the streets.Police said the girl’s father, who’s Black, was repeatedly told to stay on the sidewalk or he would be arrested, but the man later said he did not hear those commands. Videos show the father standing on the street, within 1 or 2 feet of the sidewalk, shouting at officers. The girl was next to him, according to court documents.Video shows McQuillen and another officer moving toward the man and girl, but they do not make any statement to them or tell them they are under arrest, according to court documents. At this point, the man is back on the sidewalk, and there is “no evidence of information about the need to immediately arrest (the man),” the documents said, and no evidence that McQuillen contacted a supervisor or officers other than the one who was with him.The videos also show McQuillen and the other officer trying to pull the man into the street while his family and friends try to keep him on the sidewalk. The movement caused the girl to be between McQuillen and the man, which led to her hands touching McQuillen’s vest. At that point, McQuillen raised the MK-90 fogger, a chemical spray used to control crowds, and sprayed the girl in the face, according to the court documents. She told investigators she suffered pain in her eyes and a burning sensation on her arms but did not seek medical attention.Prosecutors said McQuillen will be issued a summons to appear in court.The Kansas City Fraternal Order of Police issued a statement:”The FOP is aware of the misdemeanor charge brought against Kansas City, MO Police Officer McQuillen. The FOP is very disappointed that the Prosecuting Attorney would bring such a charge when Officer McQuillen employed the lowest level of force available to him. The use of OC spray is an extraordinarily valuable tool that often results in the de-escalation of a given situation. And, the individual here had no injuries or lasting effects from the use of the OC spray.”We believe this charge has no merit and the FOP will fully support Officer McQuillen as he challenges it in Court.”