Iowa activist's felony charges from 2020 protests are dropped Share Updated: 5:52 PM CDT May 23, 2021 Iowa activist's felony charges from 2020 protests are dropped Share Updated: 5:52 PM CDT May 23, 2021 Hide Transcript Show Transcript THE DETAILS COMING UP IN THE FORECAST. STACEY: 17 PEOPLE ARE FACING CHARGERS AFTER AN ENCOUNTER BETWEEN LAW ENFORCEMENT AND BLACK LIVES MATTER AT THE STATE CAPITOL. BOTH SIDES HAVE A DIFFERENT VIEW OF HOW IT STARTED. MAX DIEKNEITE EXPLAINS. MAX: BLACK LIVES MATTER PROTESTERS RALLIED TO SUPPORT RESTORING FELON VOTING RIGHTS. BUT IT TOOK A TURN AS POLICE MOVED IN TO ARREST 3 PEOPLE WANTED IN CONNECTION WITH A PREVIOUS PROTEST THAT ENDED WITH A VANDALIZED PATROL CAR. >> OUR DETECTIVES TOOK THREE PEOPLE INTO CUSTODY. THAT WENT WITHOUT ANY ISSUE. >> MANY DID NOT LAY A FINGER ON THE POLICE CAR. THEY DIDN’T TOUCH THE POLICE CAR. SO WHY ARE THEY BEING CHARGED WITH A FELONY FOR A POLICE CAR THAT HAS SPRAY PAINT ON IT? RIGHT NOW IT LOOKS LIKE THE POLICE DEPARTMENT IS TARGETING US, TRYING TO LOCK US UP. MAX THINGS ESCALATED AS THE : GROUP MOVED OUTSIDE. >> AT ONE POINT WHEN THE DETECTIVES TRY TO TAKE THE PRISONERS OUT OF THE STATEHOUSE, THE CROWD FOLLOWED THEM OUT AND SWARMED AND ATTACKED THE OFFICERS. >> THERE TRYING TO SPIN THIS NARRATIVE AND MAKE IT SEEM LIKE WE ARE VIOLENT INDIVIDUALS WHO WANT TO DO HARM TO POLICE OFFICERS, BUT THAT COULD NOT BE FURTHER FROM THE TRUTH. MAX THE 3 INTITIAL ARRESTS GREW : TO 17 AND THE SCUFFLE UNFOLDED. CHARGES RANGE FROM INTERFERENCE WITH OFFICIALS ACTS TO ASSAULT ON A POLICE OFFICER. >> WE HAD ONE OFFICER THAT WAS PUT IN A HEADLOCK. HE WAS PUT IN A CHOKE HOLD, TACKLE TO THE GROUND AND AT THAT POINT HIS GUN WAS KNOCKED OUT OF THE HOLSTER. >> WE ARE GETTING CHARGED WITH FELONIES OF ASSAULTING POLICE OFFICERS. THEN THEY COME TO THE MEDIA AND MAKE IT SOUND LIKE WHERE A VICIOUS MOB OUT TO ATTACK THE POLICE. THESE ARE LIES, AND THEY NEED TO BE CALLED OUT. STACEY: TWO OF THE P