He was arrested during Myrtle Beach’s Black Lives Matter protests. He went free Monday

Chauvin, who was eventually convicted of murder, kept his knee pinned to Floyd’s neck while Floyd gasped “I can’t breathe” and begged for his mother.

Floyd’s death ignited global protests against systemic racism and police brutality.

Unlike some cities that saw injuries and property damage during the protests, the demonstrations in Myrtle Beach on May 31, 2020, were largely peaceful. Despite the intensity of those hours, no one was seriously hurt. No buildings were destroyed or looted. Police never had to use tear gas.

But officers did make arrests, including charging Spadone. His attorneys said he had gone to the protests that day because he was upset about Floyd’s death.

Spadone had been standing on a sidewalk with his scooter and was shocked when he was arrested.

“I was standing on the sidewalk, minding my own business protesting, and all of a sudden I look behind me and get thrown on the ground,” Spadone told MyHorryNews.com in 2020.

“It was not handled correctly, not on our side but on their side,” he added.

After Spadone requested a jury trial, his case finally came to court on Monday.

Although a jury was selected, Judge Long ruled before the case reached the jurors’ hands.

The judge’s decision came after the defense attorney Zmroczek cross examined Lt. Mike Quinn, a 17-year veteran of the MBPD who was supervising the city’s Civil Emergency Response Team on May 31, 2020, the day of the protests in Myrtle Beach.

Quinn testified that he told Spadone to stop protesting on a sidewalk that was part of the driveway to the police department. He said the department needed to keep that access open, but Spadone and others would not move. So Quinn said police decided to begin making arrests for disorderly conduct to send a message.

“Nothing [else] seemed to work,” he said.

While Quinn was on the stand, Zmroczek asked specifically about Spadone’s words and actions.