Community Corner

Police Arrest 29 Occupy Tampa Protesters

Protesters at Tampa's Riverfront Park are peacefully arrested and charged with trespassing and resisting arrest without violence.

Police arrested 29 Occupy Tampa protesters Thursday night after they refused to leave a downtown Tampa park.

A group of about 50 demonstrators sat down, locked arms and began chanting around 10 p.m. Thursday at Riverfront Park. "After giving the group multiple warnings, more than 20 of them exited the park," Tampa Police Department spokesperson Laura McElroy said in a news release.

When the remaining protestors were approached by police, 27 of them passively resisted and were arrested "without any physical confrontation or violence," the news release stated. Two more individuals were arrested when police said they later entered the park and refused to leave.

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It was the largest number of protesters arrested at a single time since the movement began in October, the St. Petersburg Times reports.

The following people were arrested and charged with trespass after warning and resisting arrest without violence:

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  • Kelsy E. Omorrow, 20, of 8846 N.W. 2nd St., Coral Springs
  • George D. Scharrou, 24, of 4206 59th Place E., Bradenton
  • Ronald W. Williams, 25, of 7406 Armand Dr., Tampa
  • Carolyn J. Fernandez, 24, of 9466 Lynn Lane #A, Largo
  • Daiquiri R. Jones, 22, of 7930 Bay Pt Dr., Tampa
  • Maria M. Agosto, 52, of 1302 53rd St. S., Gulfport
  • Nicholas R. Windholz, 26, of 1130 Westwood Dr., Lutz
  • Katie M. Christotilis, 23, of 15659 Morris Bridge Rd., Thonotosassa
  • James R. Dunson, 26, of 230 Mirror Lake Dr. N., St. Petersburg
  • Christopher M. Cope, 18, of 3654 El Camino Ct., Largo
  • Tommy L. Butler III, 25, of 1604 SE 3rd Ave., Gainesville
  • Brian M. Williams, 22, of 507 Holiday Terrace, Brandon
  • George R. Carylon, 21, of 125 NW 6th St., High Springs
  • Timothy J. Sommers, 23, of 39946 Sunburst Dr., Dade City
  • Daniel Greenspan, 23, of 2701 N. 19th St., Tampa
  • Elizabeth J. Toms, 20, of 1123 Graham Dairy Rd., Marathon
  • Susan G. Shannon, 59, of 2711 W. North B St., Tampa
  • Dylan J. Wallis, 19, of 1643 San Roy Dr., Dunedin
  • Michael L Freincle, 24, of 525 Clearfield Rd., Brandon
  • Sarah M. Blair, 28, of 1520 40th Ave. N., St. Petersburg
  • Mia S. DeFazio, 20, of 2845 Chelsea Place S., Clearwater
  • William J. Livsey, 47, of 2301 Washington Rd., Valrico
  • Cari S. Welsh, 27, of 3120 S. Pine Dr. #92, Largo
  • Bailey E. Riley, 18, of 3335 Petersburg Place, Palm Harbor
  • Dania E. Sixto, 22, of 10401 N. 50th St., Tampa
  • Bettejo M. Indelicato, 40, of 1488 Algood Rd., Spring Hill
  • Kade A. Kelly, 20, of 16603 Foothill Dr., Tampa
  • Derek A. English, 24, of 2012 E. Chelsea Ave., Tampa
  • Owen Gather, 31, address unavailable

They were all booked into the Hillsborough County Jail.

Similar Occupy protests have sprouted in cities around the country, most notably in New York, where hundreds of Occupy Wall Street protesters have been arrested.

Occupy Tampa protesters have said they are rallying against and other economic inequalities.


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