Des Moines police and state patrol troopers arrested 17 Black Lives Matter protesters at the Iowa Capitol Wednesday afternoon. Des Moines Police Sergeant Paul Parizek says officers arrested three activists inside the building on charges related to a June 20th protest at a Des Moines Hy-Vee.

Parizek says a protester tried to block officers’ path and police moved to arrest that person. A protester told WHO-TV police were the aggressors. Protesters tried to pull their peers away from other officers making arrests. One protester jumped on an officer’s back. Pepper spray was used during the melee.

The state patrol gave a dispersal order and the remaining protesters left.