KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — One of the people arrested over the weekend in the Fort Sanders area of Knoxville is speaking out.
Police said they arrested nine adults and one juvenile on Sunday night.
The adults were charged with disorderly conduct.
Officers said they made the arrests after a group of people broke car windows, shot fireworks and lit smoke bombs in the area.
Caroline Rowcliffe is one of the people charged.
She and her attorney said she was practicing her First Amendment right to peacefully assemble.
“She didn’t participate in any of the activities that might be characterized as vandalism or disorderly conduct, but through the exercise of police power she did find her self arrested," lawyer T. Scott Jones said.
Rowcliffe said she's attended many first aid trainings and wanted to be there to help if needed.
"I believe that I was there representing my First Amendment right to peaceful protest of which I was exercising, and I believe that I showed up to do my duty as a medic to be there for if anyone to get hurt," Rowcliffe said. "I think there were some people -- there were a good majority of people -- that were peaceful at this protest and there were a majority of people that did vandalize property."
Jones said she should not be held guilty by association.
Preliminary hearings in the case are set for Aug. 28 in Knox County General Sessions Court.