Here is what I glean from this - tell me if I am wrong...
Cops see a guy driving a moped on a sidewalk and flip on the cherries. The guy driving the moped gets distracted, crashes into a car and cops tried to revive him, but are blamed for his death.
Protesters clash with DC police for second night over fatal moped crash
I read it the same way you did. The police are being blamed for this guy's own irresponsible and illegal behavior, behavior which got him killed.