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Protestors Demand Charges Be Dropped Against Arrested Teacher

HIGHLAND PARK (KDKA) – It was initially a meeting about how to improve community relations with police. However, the opposite happened when a Pittsburgh school teacher was arrested last week.

Many thought the arrest was unjustified. This morning, protesters gathered at the Zone 5 Police Station to demand the charges against the teacher be dropped.

About 20 people showed up at the station in Highland Park to seek justice for the arrest.

Dennis Henderson was arrested last week by Pittsburgh Police after Henderson and a reporter were exchanging information on Kelly Street in Homewood. A police cruiser made a U-turn, the officer got out of his patrol car and confronted the two men.

More than a dozen police cars showed up and Henderson was arrested for disorderly conduct.

Today, those at the rally demanded justice and the arresting officer be placed on administrative leave and charges against Henderson be dropped.

"These are upstanding members of our community that they had on the ground like animals. We want to demand independence. It's Independence Day, so we want our independence from brutality and harassment from our own police officers," one woman said.

Those at the rally said all they want is fair treatment by the Pittsburgh Police specifically here at Zone 5.

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