GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — Grand Rapids First Ward City Commissioner Jon O’Connor has apologized for walking out of Tuesday’s commission meeting after continued interruptions.

In a statement released Friday morning, O’Connor said he wanted to apologize to his constituents and the city for his “outburst” and “use of inappropriate language,” saying he let his emotions get the better of him.

During public comment during Tuesday night’s commission meeting, a woman was trying to speak in support of former Officer Christopher Schurr, who is charged with second-degree murder for killing Patrick Lyoya during a traffic stop earlier this year. The woman said the greatest threat is not police but people killing each other in the streets. The woman was shouted over by a group of activists.

Despite repeated warnings, several activists continued to speak out of turn, prompting Mayor Rosalynn Bliss to order them to leave the meeting. Soon after, in the hallway outside commission chambers, three protesters were arrested for allegedly resisting and obstructing police.

Grand Rapids Police Department Chief Eric Winstrom said one of those arrested had shoved an officer and the other two interfered with that person being detained.

Upset by the hallway arrests, Lucas Leverett, a regular attendee of city meetings, told commissioners sarcastically, “Good job, guys.”

It was at that point, according to Leverett, that O’Connor said, “F— off, Lucas.”

Leverett told News 8 he thinks O’Connor should face the same misdemeanor disturbing the peace charge with which the commission routinely threatens activists.

“They’ve got rules, and now he’s going to break those rules,” Leverett said. “The mayor spends more time talking about the F-bomb in these meetings, disrupting her own flow, to admonish people like children because they used the words he used, but she has had no admonishing words for him so far. It’s just really a fascinating duplicity.”

As O’Connor walked off the dais, he muttered, “I’m done with this (expletive).”

Mayor Bliss ultimately adjourned the meeting early after a speaker refused to stop talking beyond his allotted three minutes, instead sticking his fingers in his ears and continuing to speak.

In his apology, O’Connor lamented what he called increasing polarization and an unwillingness to seek compromise with civility.

“While we all share concerns about what has taken place in our community, the actions of a small activist group have diminished the ability to conduct the business of the city and have created an environment within the commission chambers where any opposing point of view is interrupted, shouted down, or chastised,” O’Connor said in the statement Friday. “The current situation continues to stifle civic engagement and intimidates individuals from participating in the local government process.”

The commission meeting has been adjourned early two other times this year. A meeting in April ended early due to people protesting the death of Lyoya. Another meeting in May was also cut short after protesters started chanting. Later that month, bricks and graffiti were left at or near commissioner’s homes, including O’Connor’s.

“This group of individuals and their supporters have crossed a line, making it difficult to seek compromise and pursue positive outcomes for the community. They have come to my home, where my family sleeps, in an attempt to intimidate me, defacing my residence in the middle of the night. These intimidation tactics toward myself and my colleagues are unacceptable, and we should not stand for such actions, now or in the future,” O’Connor’s statement reads.

Below, read O’Connor’s entire statement:

“I want to apologize to my constituents and the entire city for my outburst and use of inappropriate language at Tuesday evening’s city commission meeting. Like so many others in our community, I am frustrated and unfortunately, I let my emotions get the better of me.

“Over the past several months I, along with my colleagues on the commission, have remained relatively quiet at the dais as well as in our public commentary for a variety of reasons. While we all share concerns about what has taken place in our community, the actions of a small activist group have diminished the ability to conduct the business of the city and have created an environment within the commission chambers where any opposing point of view is interrupted, shouted down, or chastised. I have a responsibility to listen to all those who choose to attend and make public comments, regardless of my personal beliefs about what they are saying. The current situation continues to stifle civic engagement and intimidates individuals from participating in the local government process.

“This group of individuals and their supporters have crossed a line, making it difficult to seek compromise and pursue positive outcomes for the community. They have come to my home, where my family sleeps, in an attempt to intimidate me, defacing my residence in the middle of the night. These intimidation tactics toward myself and my colleagues are unacceptable and we should not stand for such actions, now or in the future.

“I remain committed to working for positive outcomes for Grand Rapids. This is an amazing community with a history of working together in a respectful manner, making hard decisions, and producing results for residents. This is the work I will continue to focus on with my colleagues on the City Commission. Our city, our state and our country have become increasingly polarized and unwilling to seek compromise with civility. In Grand Rapids, however, we must rise above. I am dedicated to this work and invite others to join in a positive and proactive discourse for a better future for all.”

Jon O’Connor, Grand Rapids First Ward City Commissioner