Madison protests: Encampment cleared, police make arrests
Madison encampment cleared, protests all day
Protests in Madison continued through the morning, afternoon and evening after the city cleared an encampment at the intersection of Baldwin and Williamson, where police shot and killed Corey Ruiz nearly two weeks earlier.
MADISON, Wis. - Madison police arrested several people and cited others after protests that followed Tuesday's removal of an encampment at Baldwin and Williamson, the intersection where police shot and killed Corey Ruiz nearly two weeks ago.
Tuesday morning: Encampment removed
Local perspective:
City officials made public pleas for protesters to clear the intersection before action was taken Tuesday. Madison Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway called the situation "not sustainable or safe" last week.
FREE DOWNLOAD: Get breaking news alerts in the FOX LOCAL Mobile app for iOS or Android
Crews gave people at the encampment a verbal warning to remove their things and leave at around 5 a.m. Police said they were called to the scene after "projectiles" were thrown at city streets staff.
PHOTO GALLERY: Protests on Aug. 4, 2026
The Madison Police Department special events team, in riot gear, and firefighters responded to a fire that was seen in the middle of the intersection at around 5:15 a.m. City officials told WMTV-TV that protesters threw memorial candles in the air, sparking three fires.
One protester was taken to a hospital, and a second was injured but declined medical care at the scene. A city employee was taken to a hospital after experiencing a medical event.
SIGN UP TODAY: Get daily headlines, breaking news emails from FOX6 News
The fire was put out, several people were arrested, and the intersection was cleared for the first time in nearly two weeks at around 9 a.m. Crews removed all signs and barricades, and street sweepers picked up leftover debris.
WMTV-TV reported that the items removed from the street were taken to Demetral Park, near Madison East High School, for people to pick things up.
Law enforcement approach to protests
In Madison, tension between protesters and police played out for hours Tuesday. Security expert Brian Dorow joined FOX6 News to talk about how an encampment differs from a memorial, de-escalation tactics and the law enforcement strategy to handling protests.
Tuesday afternoon: Protests, arrests continue
Local perspective:
Officers left the scene but later returned. Demonstrations continued to disrupt traffic, and more protesters were arrested as tension between the crowd and law enforcement built.
"This is disrespectful, what they did. You didn’t have to do it that way, and when you do it this way, the only thing you can ask for is this type of reaction from the citizens, from the people that’s protesting, from people that don’t agree," protester Darnell Jones told FOX6.
"I'm going to try my best to keep this peaceful, because anything on the other side of peaceful I’m going to lose, and my people are going to lose," protester Dwayne Washington told FOX6. "We need to stay peaceful, and the police need to understand that we are here and they need to respect us."
The Madison Police Department said, by 11:30 a.m., officers arrested and booked 16 people. Most of those people were booked on charges of unlawful assembly and obstructing an officer. Ten other people were cited and released.
Police will release the number of afternoon and evening arrests on Wednesday. However, police did say a gun was recovered from a juvenile protester who was arrested for unrelated charges.
FOX6 saw two people taken to the ground and arrested at around 4 p.m. Officers used some sort of spray during those arrests. Demonstrators chanted and at points got into officers' faces.
Tuesday evening: Crowd takes over intersection
Local perspective:
Demonstrators took over the intersection again by Tuesday night, blocking the street with garbage cans and parked cars. Police officers left the area but had a drone flying over the crowd. Protesters who spoke to FOX6 said they're not going anywhere despite police and officials wanting them to leave.
Business impact
Dig deeper:
While the encampment was cleared, the small businesses who spoke to FOX6 News on and off camera said they stand in solidarity with the protesters. They said what happened at the intersection is much greater and needs to end.
The owner of a nearby café said the recent events – the shooting, encampment and protests – have taken a financial toll on local businesses. However, they remain supportive of protesters, who they described as respectful of the community.
"The community members were very conscious of the businesses, conscious of there being a firehouse, so making sure that we were not impeding, on certain businesses," protester Shadayra Kilfoy-Flores said. "I'm grateful that the Crystal Corner Bar was closed, right, because alcohol could've exacerbated some of the pain here, but other than that, all the businesses have really been in support because most of them witnessed what happened."
Madison protests: Candidates weigh in
FOX6 News invited all candidates in the Wisconsin races for governor and attorney general to discuss the protests in Madison that developed after the city cleared an encampment at the intersection where police shot and killed Corey Ruiz. Democratic gubernatorial candidates Kelda Roys and David Crowley, along with Republican attorney general candidate Eric Toney, shared their perspectives.
Mayor Rhodes-Conway video statement
What they're saying:
Madison Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway released a video statement on Tuesday morning, saying in part:
"This morning, the City of Madison opened the intersection of Williamson and Baldwin. The work was led by non-law enforcement staff from multiple City agencies.
"Our goal was to clear the barricades, preserve personal belongings and memorial materials, and open the street up to normal traffic. The CARES Team and members of the Violence Prevention Unit were there from the beginning to assist. Unfortunately, as City staff cleared the area, rocks and other items were thrown at City employees and two fires were set; as a result, law enforcement was called in to stabilize the scene, and a small number of individuals were arrested. Again, multiple efforts and calls to end the occupation peacefully were made but ultimately ignored."
Shooting investigation
The backstory:
Madison Police Chief John Patterson said officers responded to calls about a man stealing bicycles and checking car doors and confronted him on July 22, but he rode away on a bicycle.
Police later encountered the man again, at Baldwin and Williamson, and the man "fell or was pulled off the bicycle." There was a struggle in the middle of the intersection, and police said the man pulled out a knife and injured an officer.
Madison police shooting: Department lacks bodycams, stirs debate
Wisconsin's largest police departments have body cameras except one – Madison. A new debate erupts over why the city doesn’t have them after last week’s fatal police shooting of Corey Ruiz.
Officers used a taser to try to take the man into custody before the injured officer shot the man, since identified as Corey Ruiz. Ruiz was pronounced dead at a hospital.
Madison police said the four officers involved were placed on administrative leave as the Wisconsin Department of Justice Division of Criminal Investigation investigates the shooting as a homicide.
The Madison Police Department does not have body-worn cameras for officers. After prior efforts to fund bodycams were shut down, Madison Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway has said she will include funding for them in her next budget.
WATCH: Madison encampment, protests
Timeline:
FOX6 News took major developments from the area of Baldwin and Williamson live throughout the day Tuesday. Watch the clips from continuing coverage below.
Madison police shooting; city crews begin clearing out protest encampment
On Tuesday, City of Madison crews began clearing an encampment near Williamson and Baldwin streets.
Madison crews clear out protest encampment
On Tuesday, City of Madison crews began clearing an encampment near Williamson and Baldwin streets.
Crews clear out protest encampment in Madison
City of Madison crews cleared out an encampment near Williamson and Baldwin streets on Tuesday, Aug. 4.
Demonstrators gather in Madison after crews remove encampment site
Demonstrators gathered in Madison on Tuesday after crews removed an encampment site near Williamson and Baldwin streets.
Madison police use pepper spray, 2 arrested after protest encampment cleared
City of Madison crews cleared out an encampment near Williamson and Baldwin streets on Tuesday, Aug. 4, which had been established to protest the fatal police shooting of Corey Ruiz. This video shows police using pepper spray on demonstrators, and two people were taken into custody.
Madison police protest encampment cleared, demonstrations continue
City of Madison crews cleared out an encampment near Williamson and Baldwin streets on Tuesday, Aug. 4, which had been established to protest the fatal police shooting of Corey Ruiz. This led to tensions between authorities and demonstrators, which led to additional arrests.
Editor's note: This story was updated to add new information.
The Source: FOX6 News was in Madison. Information in this story is from FOX6 News interview, the Madison Police Department, city officials, the Wisconsin Department of Justice and WMTV-TV.