Frank David Sensabaugh talks outside of the Kosciusko County Jail after his arrest. InkFreeNews photo by Briley Gargis.

By Briley Gargis
InkFreeNews

WARSAW – Three people who are part of the Black Lives Matter march traveling from Milwaukee to Washington DC., were arrested for disorderly conduct Wednesday night, Aug. 12, along US 30 between Pierceton and Larwill in Kosciusko County.

Those arrested were Frank David Sensabaugh, 30, Eric Ajala, 20, and Tory Lowe, 44 – all of Milwaukee, Wis., – were arrested for misdemeanor charges of disorderly conduct and obstruction of traffic. Lowe was arrested for an additional charge of misdemeanor resisting law enforcement. All were taken to the Kosciusko County Jail.

Sensabaugh, who goes by Frank Nitty II, is the leader of the march. All three men were released shortly afterward after posting bond.

“This evening around 6:00 p.m. three protesters were arrested after intentionally obstructing vehicular traffic on US 30 in Kosciusko County. US 30 is a divided four-lane US highway with a speed limit of 60 miles per hour,” a release from the Indiana State Police said. 

Police said area dispatch centers began receiving calls about traffic being backed up for several miles in the eastbound lanes of US 30 because of the march. Troopers made contact with the group of protesters walking along US 30 with eight support vehicles traveling at walking speed in the right lane.

The caravan of cars and pedestrians was “creating a dangerous situation for the group as well as traveling motorists. At different times pedestrians would also walk in the travel portion of the roadway and not on the shoulder,” the ISP statement said.

According to the release, Troopers spoke to Frank Sensabaugh, who is known on Facebook as Frank Nitty II, explaining that the group he was leading was creating a dangerous situation with both vehicles and pedestrians traveling at walking speed on US 30.

Troopers explained to the group that they were welcome to continue on with both pedestrians and vehicles traveling on the shoulder. Purportedly the group failed to comply and continued 

According to police, eastbound traffic continuing to back up for approximately seven miles as a result of the march.

The group was again approached on US 30 near CR 900E where they were warned that the group could not continue to travel in the right lane and impeding traffic.

Afterward, the group of protesters congregated outside of the Kosciusko County Jail and waited for the three men to be released. InkFreeNews spoke with various people who all had one general reaction. Most spoke of the situation being premeditated.

“We were walking peacefully, this is what we were doing ever since we left Milwaukee,” said a member of the group who identified himself as “Mike.”

“We were making sure that our people weren’t getting hurt or ran over, but the police told us to get over in the shoulder. They then took the opportunity to grab the three guys that were arrested and things escalated. It was done very unprofessionally.” he said.

The group wanted to make it clear that they were right at the county line and about to enter Whitley County when the incident occurred. Because of this, Mike said he believes that “this was premeditated due to the fact that we weren’t breaking the law.”

Protesters stood outside the jail awaiting the release of the three men. InkFreeNews photo by Briley Gargis.