Paterson reaches deal with man arrested for protesting Jameek Lowery's death

The protest that led to the arrests took place on January 11, 2019, a frigid Friday night, four days after Lowery's controversial death, a case in which his own trial is still ongoing.

Lowery recorded a Facebook video at the Paterson Police Station reception in which he admitted to taking drugs and said he was paranoid and afraid the officers would kill him. The officers hit Lowery and restrained him during the ambulance ride to the hospital, authorities said, and he lost consciousness before arriving at the emergency room.

Lowery died on January 7, sparking a volatile protest outside Paterson City Hall and police headquarters the following night. Word spread that there would be another protest on January 11, and Paterson police reportedly contacted city activists to warn them against blocking traffic.

During the march, near the corner of Market and Main streets, Paterson police officers on motorcycles suddenly appeared and cut off the demonstrators. Thomas, a Paterson school teacher, and Newsome were handcuffed, charged with obstruction and detained in the detention area of ​​police headquarters.