Child of House Democratic Whip Clark arrested in anti-police protest

The 23-year-old child of House Democrat Whip Katherine Clark was arrested over the weekend during an anti-police protest in Boston, officials and the congresswoman say. 

"Last night, my daughter was arrested in Boston, Massachusetts. I love Riley, and this is a very difficult time in the cycle of joy and pain in parenting," Clark, whose district is just outside of Boston, tweeted Sunday. "This will be evaluated by the legal system, and I am confident in that process.

Clark's child was arrested on two counts – one in connection with spray painting a monument and the other for alleged assault.

The Boston Police Department said the protest occurred Saturday night in the city's Boston Common park.

The department said that while the defendant was being arrested, about 20 protesters surrounded the officers, verbally attacking them and stopping traffic. An officer was bloodied after being hit in the face during the arrest, the department also said.

Clark's child was arrested and charged with "assault by means of a dangerous weapon, destruction or injury of personal property and damage of property by Graffiti/Tagging," police said.

"Upon arrival officers observed an individual defacing the monument with spray paint. The tagging read 'NO COP CITY' and 'ACAB," according to police. (The abbreviation is an anti-police slogan short for "All Cops are Bast&%$s.") 

The suspect's gender is unclear. Clark refers to the person arrested as "my daughter" and "Riley" Dowell. 

The Police department identifies the suspect as Jared Dowell, 23, of Melrose, Massachusetts.