Felony charges against Texans' Kenny Stills, other protesters dropped

Felony charges against Houston Texans receiver Kenny Stills and dozens of other protesters who gathered at the Kentucky attorney general's home to demand justice in Breonna Taylor's death earlier this week have been dropped.

Jefferson County Attorney Mike O'Connell said in a statement that Louisville police had probable cause for the felony charge but that "in the interest of justice and the promotion of the free exchange of ideas, we will dismiss that charge" for each of the protesters.

Stills was among the 87 protesters who gathered at Attorney General Daniel Cameron's Louisville home Tuesday. Louisville police had said some of the protesters had threatened to burn down the house if they didn't get justice, prompting the felony charge of "intimidating a participant in a legal process."

Stills, 28, was booked at 11:36 p.m. local time Tuesday and charged with intimidating a participant in a legal process, according to the Louisville jail's booking log. He was released from jail Wednesday and tweeted about the incident later, writing: "'Good trouble' with my brothers and sisters- organized by @untilfreedom. Arrested for peacefully protesting. While Breonnas Taylor's murderers are still out on the street."

A longtime vocal supporter of social initiatives against racial prejudice and police brutality, Stills also participated in a march for Taylor last month at the state capitol in Kentucky. Last month, he attended George Floyd's funeral in Houston and later tweeted that "Sports are a distraction from the movement."

Cameron said in an interview with The Associated Press on Friday that he respected O'Connell's decision to drop the felony charge.

"It certainly was surreal to see folks sitting in my front yard with the express purpose of escalating the situation," Cameron said.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.