Posted By: Margaret Pozzini
Fri Nov 10, 3:45 PM ET
Police on Friday said two people were arrested after problems arose in a strike picket line.
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Workers at the Goodyear Tire and Rubber plant on Goodyear Boulevard have been on strike for about two weeks, and authorities have been at the plant to maintain order.
At about 6:49 a.m. Friday, a vehicle with two men, one of whom was a temporary worker reporting to work at Goodyear, pulled into the wrong entrance to the Goodyear plant and tried to enter the plant by traveling behind the picket line, police said.
The area behind the picket line is blocked off by orange traffic cones.
When the vehicle entered the secure area, about 10 picketers left the picket line and confronted the vehicle at its front and sides, according to a statement from the Danville Police Department.
When the vehicle edged forward, the picketers protested. The driver of the vehicle then attempted to back up, but police said the picketers continued to shout and confront the occupants.
The passenger opened his door and got out, and a physical confrontation began. Officers said the driver then got out of the vehicle and joined the fight.
Punches were traded and at least one traffic cone was thrown, investigators said.
The vehicle was still in gear and began to circle backward toward the confrontation. Police officers standing across the street ran onto the Goodyear property and were able to enter the runaway vehicle and stop it and also separate the two men from the crowd, using pepper spray in the process.
The driver, Donnell Trimane Lea, 24, of Danville, was arrested on charges of disorderly conduct. The passenger, Kenneth Lamar Harris, 21, of Alton, was charged with disorderly conduct and assault on an officer. He is accused of jumping on an officer's back and putting the officer in a chokehold.
A Taser gun was eventually used to subdue Harris, police said.
The investigation is continuing.
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