Lake Milton man part of tear gas protest in Jamestown, Pa.

Five people handcuffed together blocked a road near Kinsman for hours

JAMESTOWN, Pa. -- Five people --including a Lake Milton man -- involved in Monday's protest at a tear gas manufacturer based in Mercer County have pleaded not guilty to a host of charges.

According to Mercer County District Court in Greenville, Charles William Denison III, 41, of Lake Milton and four others have posted $25,000 bond after their arraignment Tuesday. Court officials said the five will again appear in the Greenville court before Magistrate Brian Arthur on Sept. 8.

Others charged are Pauline Blount, 29, of Philadelphia; Aniqua Raihan, 24, of Philadelphia; Cassidy A. Regan, 32, of New York; and Torren Smith, 32, of Philadelphia.

The charges are third-degree felony riot charges and misdemeanor false imprisonment, failure to disperse, obstruction, defiant trespassing and disorderly conduct, according to Mercer County District Attorney Peter C. Acker.

Pennsylvania State Police closed state Route 58 about 5 miles northeast of Kinsman for a few hours Monday after demonstrators blocked the entrance to Combined Systems Incorporated on Kinsman Road, just about 3 miles east of the Kinsman Township line.

According to Sgt. Iian Elliott of the state police, the five people were taken into custody shortly after noon on charges of trespassing. The five were taken to Mercer County jail.

Road crews removed barriers on Route 58 shortly after 1 p.m. when the protesters were removed from the CSI premises.

A Facebook post from the New York-based group, the War Resisters League, shows a photo of five demonstrators handcuffed to each other, sitting in front of a plant gate. According to the post, the action Monday aimed to shut down eight CSI production sites for the day to protest what organizers say is the use of tear gas at demonstrations across the United States in wake of the George Floyd killling May 26 in Minneapolis.

A subsequent post from the group on Tuesday stated the group of protesters successfully deterred a shipment from entering Combined Systems Inc. and had many meaningful conversations with neighbors and motorists driving by the plant.

CSI officials were contacted for comment but have not responded.