A Baltimore protester whose sudden arrest was broadcast on live television Tuesday night, sparking a massive cry for information of his whereabouts, has been freed from central booking, his attorney announced on Twitter nearly 48 hours later.
Joseph Kent, a 21-year-old student at Morgan State University who rose to local prominence during the Michael Brown protests late last year, "is a free man," Baltimore attorney Stephen Beatty tweeted Thursday morning.
#JosephKent IS A FREE MAN! MORE TO FOLLOW!— The Big Acquittal (@BeattyLaw) April 30, 2015
Mashable has reached out to his attorney for further comment.
Joseph Kent's arrest
Kent was last seen on live television standing with his hands in the air, alongside a line of riot gear-clad police officers just before 11 p.m. on Tuesday. Moments later, a National Guard humvee rolled up, and a swarm of officers swallowed Kent. The vehicle blocked the camera's view of the arrest.
Protesters both in Baltimore and watching at home were shocked at the sudden and over-the-top nature of the arrest, and they shared the clip widely.
"Must see VIDEO -- Protester #JosephKent kidnapped by police," tweeted the musician Talib Kweli Greene, who urged his followers to stay awake until they knew that Kent was okay.
Where is #JosephKent stay awake people— Talib Kweli Greene (@TalibKweli) April 29, 2015
Others accused the police of conducting a "blackbag kidnapping" snatched away "the same way Colombian drug lords do." Some on Twitter encouraged their followers to call a phone number for central booking in Baltimore, demanding that police free the young activist.
Just spoke to a rude @BaltimorePolice officer. Number for jail services is 410-545-8121. Inquire about #JosephKent. #WhereIsJosephKent— George Aumoithe (@gaumwhat) April 29, 2015
A few pressured CNN to investigate the arrest, accusing the network of turning a blind eye.
The nerve of @CNN to not pay attention to #JosephKent being kidnapped while the voice of the news awkwardly ignore what just happened.— Death To Bigotry (@Int_Aristocrat2) April 29, 2015
I bet @CNN is pissed af that they accidentally got footage of the police kidnapping #JosephKent— Kinky Kylie (@KyliesCurls) April 29, 2015
The following morning, Kent's name was one of Twitter's top trending topics.
In November, Kent spoke to the Baltimore City Paper about his efforts to keep the peace during protests in solidarity with Ferguson.
"The protesting, the marching and the movement, it was important to a lot of people out there," he said.
"Of course, it's Baltimore and you're gonna have the ones who wanna be violent and ignorant and stuff like that, but the majority of the people were of one accord and wanted to send a message to the people that don't understand what is going on and blind to what is happening -- that it is just not OK to kill our young people."