...Two grade-school-age boys and a toddler were among the people in the path of the trucks Friday, a development that Bjornstad said was “quite disturbing” and “quite appalling, in my opinion.” Police want to ensure the safety of the protesters, should they have to be removed, and police were not prepared for safely removing children Friday, he said.
“We’re going to have to figure out how to address that issue,” Bjornstad said...
Olympia Mayor Mark Foutch released a written statement Sunday that said any reports of excessive police force that are filed with the city will be “thoroughly and impartially” investigated. But he said police reported that some demonstrators have acted in ways that exceeded their rights to use public roads for political expression. And he said demonstrators need to “express their opinions in ways that do not block the public rights-of-way for unreasonable periods and to respond promptly to lawful requests and orders of police officers on the scene.”
Between 30 and 40 officers worked Sunday as a result of the protests, said Dick Machlan, Olympia police administrative services manager.
Olympia police got additional support from Lacey, Tumwater and Thurston County law enforcement agencies. The additional staffing needed for such protests can cost the city of Olympia between $2,000 and $15,000, Machlan said. “It’s so dependent on the individual event,” he said.
The latest port protest could end up being on the more expensive end if additional police are needed to work today because itÂ’s the observed Veterans Day holiday, Machlan said. That means working staff members earn one-and-a-half times their typical wage.
The confrontations Sunday began after about 8:45 a.m., when protesters began marching back and forth across Franklin Street at the Market Street intersection. As 18-wheelers towing cargo began rolling down Market Street about five minutes later, two protesters lay down in the road, creating a human blockade.
Police officers sprayed both with pepper spray. Another caravan of vehicles began leaving the port about 9:45 a.m., prompting protesters to run out ahead of the vehicles. Police arrested at least one man who witnesses said was in the road and later arrested two others. Those arrested on suspicion of violating the cityÂ’s pedestrian interference ordinance were Joshua Elliott, Montgomery Gondolfi and Luke Noble, according to Olympia City Jail.
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