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Crowd blocks Santa Maria intersection; Town Center Mall broken into

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Hours after a protest demanding justice for George Floyd was held in Santa Maria, a crowd began to grow again at the intersection of Broadway and Cook Street and blocking the roadway.

Earlier in the day on Sunday, protesters carrying signs took over the street in front of the Santa Maria City Hall. By 6:30 p.m., much of the crowd had dissipated, and police said the protest had been peaceful.

After dark, more people began to arrive at the intersection with some people doing donuts in the street with their cars and setting off fireworks. A fire was also set in the middle of the street in front of City Hall. The flag in front of City Hall was also cut down.

Shortly after 10 p.m., a KSBY News crew near the scene was approached by a man who said he had been stabbed. Police were called and emergency crews arrived to tend to the man's wounds.

By 11 p.m., the crowd appeared to have left the intersection, and a large group of people broke into the Santa Maria Town Center Mall. Police were responding, but up until that point in the evening, officers had stayed at a distance from the crowd.