Berkeley Police Statement on Dec. 22 at/near Occupy Berkeley

http://berkeley.patch.com/articles/berkeley-police-s-statement-on-dec-22-at-near-occupy-berkeley

There were two confrontations between encampment participants and BPD officers this morning. An individual was seen approaching the Ronald T. Tsukamoto Public Safety Building with what appeared to be a crowbar, an unidentifiable canister and a gas mask. Due to information that there had been “talk” within the encampment to damage or vandalize the PSB, the male and two others were detained and brought into the PSB lobby forofficer safety. The suspect seen with the items, Joseph Paul Briones, 30, of Los Angeles, was arrested for violation of 647(f)PC – Drunk in Public and 11377(a)HS- Possession of a Controlled Substance/Amphetamines. When participants from the park learned of the detentions, a group ran to the front of the Public Safety Building, yelling and remaining there for some time.

A group of BPD officers took this opportunity to drive to the south side of the park and remove several abandoned tents. When campers in the park and many in front of the Public Safety Buildin noticed the officers’ activity, they began running back to the park. They surrounded the truck and charged officers. Some officers used force, their batons, to push the group back so that the officers could safely drive away.

A second confrontation occurred at approximately 1:15 a.m. when a City of Berkeley Public Works crew arrived in front of the Public Safety Buildin with a truck to remove the tents and items that the officers had taken from the park. A group swarmed the Public Works crew, began climbing on the truck and attempted to get the property.