Henrico Police: No protests or related incidents have occurred in the county

While four days of protests and riots in Richmond have left the city bruised and many residents and other observers filled with an abundance of emotions, Henrico County has not witnessed anything comparable so far.

In the aftermath of the brutal killing of George Floyd, a black man, in Minneapolis, Minnesota by a white police officer, Richmond – like dozens of other cities nationwide – has been the scene of some peaceful protests, some rowdy ones and some rioting. The result: damage to a number of stores and businesses, fires to set to several buildings and vehicles, and clashes between police officers and protesters, as well as several incidents involving the police and members of the media.

On Monday evening, Richmond Police sprayed tear gas into a seemingly peaceful crowd of several hundred people at the Robert E. Lee monument on Monument Avenue, sending people running and angering many. Officials from the police department later apologized, saying that officers had erred.

Meanwhile, Henrico Police officials have seen nothing in the county that they are connecting with the city protests, Henrico Police Lt. Ashley Robertson told the Citizen. During the past two days, social media rumors have hinted at protests and looting in Short Pump, but that hasn’t occurred. Police officials are monitoring social media to keep an eye out for that type of plan, Robertson said.

Rumors Sunday night of gunshots in Short Pump connected to protesters were unfounded, he said.

At the request of the Richmond Police Department, Henrico has sent some of its police officers to assist with the crowd control efforts in the city; Robertson declined to say how many but did say that none were involved in any incidents and none were injured.

The county and surrounding localities have a mutual aid agreement, whereby they will provide assistance at no cost to each other when needed.