Anarchists disrupt Pride Weekend, six arrested
Posted by Detective Mark Jamieson
Just after midnight this morning a group began to assemble for a “flash mob” at the corner of 12th and Madison. This was during the annual Pride Festival Weekend, so there were a lot of people out on the streets and a number of officers assigned to the event. The group grew to about 40 people and then about 15 minutes later broke up, with most wandering north on 12th Avenue. Shortly thereafter, the group reassembled on 13th Avenue and began marching westbound on East Pine Street towards 12th. Once on 12th Avenue, the group continued north, walking in the street, and then east on Olive, toward Cal Anderson Park. At approximately 12:40 am, there were reports of members of the group lighting off fireworks.
The group continued on to Broadway, still taking over the street. Officers were now seeing members of the group knocking over road signs and dragging garbage cans into the street. At about 12:45 am officers attempted to contact and detain an unidentified white female who was in the process of dragging a trash can into the street, but she eluded officers and ran back into the crowd. The group then continued onto East Pike Street, walking eastbound, where they were met by a line of officers at 10th Avenue and East Pike Street. The group stopped and began to dance and bang on drums. Several in the group took the opportunity to yell at the officers. Several in the crowd then began to place bandanas over their faces and officers overheard some in the group discuss breaking windows.
After several minutes, the group began to move south along 10th Avenue to East Union, then east on Union to 11th, where officers reported seeing more members put bandanas on their faces. It appeared to officers that some in the group might be affiliated with the various anarchist groups. The group walked around eventually ending up back at 12th and Madison.
Shortly after 1:00 am, a police commander gave the group the order to get out of the street and back onto the sidewalk. The street was cleared and the group left the street and assembled on the sidewalk. A 25 year old male, who was on the sidewalk, purposely stepped off the sidewalk back into the street and proceeded to walk directly to, and in front of, the police commander. The man clicked his heels and stood at attention in front of the commander. The commander informed the man he was under arrest, and directed officers to arrest him. When the man was taken into custody, the group grew agitated and verbally abusive.
Officers saw an unknown man jump on top of a parked car and begin to stomp and jump up and down on it. Officers ordered the man to stop and get down off the car. The man refused, and pepper spray was used. Several members of the group surged forward and a 24 year old male rushed forward and kicked the commander in the knee. Pepper spray was again used on the suspect. That man was arrested for assault. As officers moved forward to assist the officer, a 30 year old man and a 31 year old woman immediately grabbed onto the man being arrested and attempted to pull him back into the crowd. The 31 year old female had been arrested earlier in the week for trespassing and is well known in the anarchist community. The two were arrested for Hindering Law Enforcement. A 29 year old woman was arrested for Pedestrian Interference and Obstructing, while a 22 year old woman was arrested for Pedestrian Interference during the disturbance.
All six suspects were transported to the East Precinct, where they were treated for the effects of pepper spray and later booked into the King County Jail for the various charges.
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