District of Columbia police report over 700 'riot-related' arrests in year, following Floyd murder

The D.C. Metropolitan Police Department has recorded over 700 "riot-related" arrests and over 1,000 charges filed from May 2020 to April 2021, according to a recently released report from the agency. 

The report by the agency, the District of Columbia's municipal police department, begins the same month George Floyd was murdered during an arrest by the Minneapolis Police Department.

The May 25, 2020, death of Floyd, a black male, sparked nationwide protests, including numerous that devolved into arson, looting, violence and other incidents associated with riots.

The report, release last week, also includes Jan. 6, the day demonstrators breached the U.S. Capitol, causing a $1 million-plus in damages and injuring at least 150 police officers. 

Data shows a total 398 arrests were made from May 30 to June 2 of last year by the Metropolitan Police Department, dates that coincide with the height of Floyd protests in the nation's capital. 

The total number of MPD arrests in that month alone was 449, compared to 742 for the entire 12-month period, which equals roughly 60 percent. 

In comparison, MDP website show 69 arrests the day of Jan. 6,  the same day as the U.S. capitol insurrection.

This disparity could be attributed to multiple agencies responding to the January incident, with MDP being called to assist the U.S. Capitol Police. 

USCP reported Tuesday, on the six-month anniversary of the riot, that it has been "working with federal law enforcement agents to track down the suspects and bring them to justice," and that  over 500 defendants face charges.

The day of the 289 arrests were the most made by the MPD in the entire year, even though Jan 6. riot has been described by many as potentially one of the largest criminal investigations in the Justice Department ’s history.

Though someone could be arrested but have multiple charges, of the 1,027 charges reported by the MPD over the 12-month period, 395, or 39%, are a result of curfew violations.