US judge: No probable cause for some RNC arrests

NEW YORK — A federal judge says some arrests of protesters outside the 2004 Republican National Convention in New York lacked probable cause.

Judge Richard Sullivan made the ruling Monday. He says the Constitution does not recognize guilt by association.

In February, a hearing was held on the merits of dozens of lawsuits against New York City for 1,800 arrests.

Sullivan says video shot during protest arrests on Fulton Street makes it clear that marchers were trying to comply with police instructions.

He says consent for the march was revoked suddenly. He says there was no realistic opportunity for the protesters to disperse.

The judge says a trial is needed to determine whether police took necessary steps to extract innocent people from those arrested at a second protest location.