Police arrest third person in June's pro-Palestine protest at Pitt

A Pittsburgh man has been arrested for storming a barrier and injuring a police officer last month during pro-Palestine protests at the University of Pittsburgh.

University of Pittsburgh Police on Monday arrested Cole Florkewicz, 24, of the city’s Perry South neighborhood, as the third person charged in connection with what authorities called an “illegal encampment” outside the Cathedral of Learning on Oakland’s Fifth Avenue.

Florkewicz was one of about 30 protesters who, at 7 p.m. June 3, pushed a police barrier in attempts to dismantle it, according a complaint in the case. He then threw a can that struck a police lieutenant, the complaint said.

Their interaction was captured on the officer’s body-worn camera.

“Do you want to hurt me?” the lieutenant asked Florkewicz, according to the complaint. “Are you OK with hurting me?”

“Yeah,” he responded.

Florkewicz was charge with aggravated assault, rioting, obstructing the administration of the law and disorderly conduct.

He was arraigned and released Tuesday, court records show. His preliminary hearing is July 16.

Pitt police on Friday charged two other men in connection with the June protests.

Muhammad Ali, 21, and Cory Roma, 24, both of Pittsburgh, joined others in attacking a security barrier during the protest, a criminal complaint in the case said.

Ali grabbed an officer’s baton and was one of two people who attempted to rip a barrier from the hands of a police lieutenant, whose hand and legs were hurt, the complaint said.

Roma helped knock over and disassemble a security barrier and also pushed barriers into police officers, forcing them to retreat for their safety, according to a separate complaint.

Pitt police charged Ali with aggravated assault, rioting, disorderly conduct and obstructing the administration of law.

They charged Roma with rioting, disorderly conduct, obstructing the administration of law and defiant trespass.