Report: Officers told 'stay way out' as Silent Sam toppled

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. — A broadcast outlet reports a North Carolina police chief told his officers to stand aside as protesters tore down a Confederate monument on the flagship campus of the University of North Carolina.

WRAL.com reported Wednesday evening its public records request obtained about 400 pages of emails and texts to and from Chapel Hill Police Chief Chris Blue. It says messages show Blue closely monitored the Aug. 20 protest as his officers backed up UNC's campus police before protesters tore down the statue known as "Silent" Sam."

RELATED ARTICLES:

• Hundreds protest on UNC campus against 'Silent Sam' Confederate statue
• UNC students protest 'Silent Sam' Confederate statue
• UNC at Chapel Hill could be sued over Confederate statue

The statue was yanked down after several hundred demonstrators gathered, some raising banners to conceal the move.

WRAL reports Blue instructed officers "Let's give them lots of space" and "stay way out."

A Town of Chapel Hill spokeswoman didn't immediately respond to an email requesting the texts and emails.

Read more top trending stories on wsoctv.com:

• Police look for 2 suspects after armed robbery at NE Charlotte 7-Eleven
• Two killed, four injured in head-on collision in Lenoir 
• CMS pulls capital funding to 4 towns who could build charter schools
• WATCH: Keith Monday's Wednesday forecast outlook 
• Arrests made in shooting at AvidXchange Music Factory 

Associated Press