Among eight people arrested during an hours-long protest Sunday in downtown Butler was a man accused of trying to punch and bite a city police officer, another man who tussled with officers, and a third man who threatened the lives of an officer and a police dog.

On Monday, District Judge Wayne Seibel arraigned two of the defendants on felony charges, while the others are facing misdemeanor charges. No injuries were reported.

“The protests were non-violent and allowed to continue,” said Butler Police Chief Bob O'Neill in a news release. “No permits were requested and no streets were closed.”

The protest began about 2 p.m. on South Main Street in the area of the Butler County Courthouse and was held in the wake of the death of George Floyd, a black man whose killing May 25 by police in Minneapolis has sparked riots in a number of cities nationwide.

The Butler protest, which ended around 9:45 p.m., was generally peaceful, police said, with occasional arguments between protesters and counter-protesters. O'Neill estimated that at its peak, between 300 and 400 people gathered in the area.

About 6:30 p.m., police said, a “large faction” of protesters began marching through the city, eventually making its way back to Diamond Park.

Around 8 p.m., a fight broke out among two protesters, according to police, which eventually led to the first arrests. Soon after, authorities decided to order all protesters to disperse.

“The order was issued to disperse to everyone due to it being an unlawful assembly,” O'Neill said. “The command was given numerous times and officers then began to clear the area. It took approximately one hour and the entire Main Street area was cleared.”

That decision was made, police said, for the safety of citizens, business owners, law enforcement officers and the protesters.

Assisting city police were officers from Butler Township, county sheriff's deputies and members of the county's emergency services. Authorities eventually used loudspeakers and verbal commands to order all those present to leave.

Officers formed a line across South Main Street and the sidewalks in an attempt to move the lingering protesters north on Main Street.

Those arrested were:

Charles L. Poole, 28, of Butler, on charges of aggravated assault on a police officer, a felony, and resisting arrest, a misdemeanor.

Police said Poole got into a heated exchange with another man, who was believed to be protesting Floyd's death, about 8 p.m. at Diamond Park. An officer told the other man to leave and he did.

But when Sgt. Nicholas Shulik walked toward Poole, the defendant alleged tried to punch the officer in the chest.

Shulik and two officers moved in to arrest Poole, and they ended up on the ground with the suspect. The back of Shulik's head hit the pavement.

Police noted the officer was wearing a helmet, which they say spared him from possible serious injury.

Poole continued to struggle with the officers on the ground and at one point “attempted to bite Sgt. Shulik in the right thigh,” according to charging documents.

Police eventually took Poole into custody. He is in the Butler County Prison in lieu of $20,000 bond.

Other arrests Sunday night included:

Everett B. Roy, 33, of Saxonburg, on charges of riot, a felony, and resisting arrest, failure to disperse, disorderly conduct and obstructing a highway, all misdemeanors.

Roy is accused of being one of about 15 people who rushed at officers trying to arrest a man tussling with police about 8 p.m. at the park. Police said he “pushed through the crowd” and tried to get at the officers.

He was repeatedly told to get off Route 8 and get back on the sidewalk, but refused and allegedly became “verbally aggressive” and “refused to comply” with police orders.

When officers advised him he was under arrest, police said, Roy pulled away and tried to get back into the crowd. He continued to pull away as officers attempted to stop him.

During the incident, an officer lost his footing and fell to the ground. Police eventually took Roy to the ground before arresting him. He is in the county prison in lieu of $50,000 bond.

Benjamin W. Burgess, 36, of Butler, on charges of terroristic threats and failure to disperse, both misdemeanors.

Police said Burgess threatened police who were monitoring the crowd about 8 p.m. at the park. He is accused of threatening to kill an officer and threatening to kill and stab a police dog.

He also refused to comply when officers told him and others in a crowd to leave, police said. He allegedly got close to the officers' faces and screamed obscenities at them. He was subsequently arrested. He is in the county prison in lieu of $5,000 bond.

Greg A. Smith, 30, of Butler, on charges of failure to disperse and disorderly conduct.

Police said Smith was with other protesters between 9:10 and 9:25 p.m. when he became “aggressive” with officers at Main and New Castle streets after repeatedly being told to leave. He is in the county prison in lieu of $5,000 bond.

Margaret R. Emrick, 25, of Butler, on a charge of failure to disperse. She is accused of being in a crowd of protesters between 9 and 9:30 p.m. and ignoring repeated police instructions to leave the area of South Main and Vogley streets.

Shania R. Maire, 21, of Butler Township, on a charge of failure to disperse. She is accused of being with other protesters about 8 p.m. and ignoring repeated police instructions to leave the area of South Main and East Diamond streets.

David M. Mariotti, 58, of Parker Township, on a charge of failure to disperse. He is accused of being in a group of protesters between 9:15 and 9:30 p.m. and ignoring repeated police instructions to leave Main Street.

Kirk W. Smith Jr., 31, of Butler, on a charge of failure to disperse. He is accused of being with other protesters between 9 and 9:45 p.m. and refusing to comply with police instructions to leave the area of South Main Street.

Emrick, Maire, Mariotti and Kirk Smith are all free on $5,000 unsecured bond each.