ST. PAUL, Minn. (CN) – The son of former vice presidential candidate Tim Kaine was arrested on suspicion of rioting at a pro-Donald Trump rally inside the Minnesota State Capitol.
Linwood Michael Kaine, 24, was one of six protesters arrested Saturday after being suspected of second-degree riot inside the Capitol's rotunda following a "March 4 Trump" rally.
Kaine and others allegedly chanted and lit fireworks while inside the rotunda, and also interrupted the rally by throwing a smoke bomb and using air horns.
St. Paul Police spokesman Steve Linders said officers approached the suspects at a park outside the Capitol building and ordered them to the ground but they tried to flee.
“Kaine was ordered to the ground but failed to cooperate. He attempted to run but was caught by an officer, who took him to the ground. Kaine then got back on his feet and squared off with the officer, who re-engaged Kaine in an attempt to arrest him. While the officer was attempting to take Kaine to the ground, another officer arrived and deployed a chemical irritant known as ASR,” Linders said. “At this point, Kaine was taken to the ground but continued to resist arrest. In an effort to get Kaine to comply with officers instructions, a third officer on scene delivered a knee strike. Kaine then cooperated, put his hands behind his back and was taken into custody without further incident."
Kaine, who attends Carleton College in Northfield, Minn., was released from the Ramsey County jail on Tuesday. No charges were filed against him or the other protesters who were arrested.
Virginia Sen. Tim Kaine, a St. Paul native who was Hillary Clinton’s running mate in the 2016 presidential election, released a statement with his wife after their son’s arrest.
“We love that our three children have their own views and concerns about current political issues,” he said. “They fully understand the responsibility to express those concerns peacefully.”
Kaine, who also goes by the nickname "Woody," is the youngest son of three children of the Virginia senator and his wife Anne Holton.
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