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Lancaster Protesters Held On Whopping $1 Million Bail Each On Riot Charges

Following riots in Lancaster, police arrested 13 protesters: 12 adults and one juvenile. A Lancaster County judge set nine of the adults' bail amounts at $1 million.

The court also denied bail for one of the rioters. While another's bail status is still pending.

District Judge Bruce Roth set bail, charging protesters with felony arson, riot, and vandalism charges, among other protest-related charges.

One defendant also faces a charge of illegal possession of a firearm. The juvenile is facing charges relating to possession of instruments of crime and a small amount of marijuana.

The protesters took to the streets following the death of 27-year-old Ricardo Munoz.

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A cop had shot Ricardo while responding to a domestic disturbance call. Body camera footage shows Munoz welding a large knife and charging the officer.

Following the court ruling, Pennsylvania Lieutenant Governor John Fetterman criticized the judge's decision.

'Blatantly Unconstitutional' Bail

Fetterman also tweeted that the bail was an infringement on the protesters' Eighth Amendment right against excessive bail. He described it as 'blatantly unconstitutional.'

Lancaster Stands Up, a social justice advocacy group, has also slammed the judge for assigning the high bail.

The group said:

"The high bail amounts indicate that what we're seeing is not a measured pursuit of justice. Instead, it's a politically motivated attack on the movement for police reform and accountability."

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The advocacy group also claimed one of the defendants, Kathryn Patterson, was acting as a medic. She has been at other recent protests.

And her dad, Chip Patterson, called his daughter's $1 million bail 'obscene.'

He said:

"Everything that I know so far, which is not a lot, indicates that Kat is not guilty of those charges. But then again, we'll have to wait and see."

He also said he hasn't been able to reach his daughter since her arrest.

The dad said:

"I think regardless of what these people did or didn't do, the bail amount is just outrageous. It's against the Eighth Amendment."

According to family members, Munoz has schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. They also said he was off his medication at the time of the incident.

Last year, Munoz faced several counts of aggravated assault charges for stabbing at least four people, including a 16-year-old.

He's awaiting trial in October.

Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf said he mourns with Munoz's family, and he's eager to find out what happened.