CHOP FINALLY CHOPPED DOWN AS COPS RECLAIM PRECINCT STATION

Seattle smashes CHOP: Police reclaim their precinct and at least 31 people are arrested after mayor FINALLY issues executive order and riot police vacate the zone which has seen two deadly shootings in three weeks and crime rise by 500%

 

Daily Mail

July 1, 2020

 

Seattle police on Wednesday reclaimed their precinct in the city's 'occupied' protest zone after the mayor finally issued an early morning executive order to vacate the area. 

At least 31 people were arrested at the Capitol Hill Organized Protest (CHOP) zone which has seen two deadly shootings and crime rise by more than 500 per cent in just over three weeks. 

People had occupied several blocks around a park and the Seattle Police Department's East Precinct after officers abandoned the building following clashes with protesters calling for an end to police brutality. 

Calling the gathering at the East Precinct and Cal Anderson Park an 'unlawful assembly' Mayor Jenny Durkan demanded all barriers be removed in an order issued in the early hours of Wednesday morning. 

Seattle police confirmed in a tweet early Wednesday that they would be 'in the area this morning enforcing the Mayor's order'.  Officers in riot gear issued a dispersal order at 5am leading to the 31 arrests within just 30 minutes amid fears the protesters could now move to West Precinct. 

Police tweeted: 'Because suspects in recent shootings may still be in the area, and because numerous people in the area are in possession of firearms, Seattle Police officers involved in this morning's response will be equipped with additional protective gear.'

Eyewitness Omari Salisbury said: 'The Seattle Police Department basically reclaimed the precinct in less than 30 minutes, five feet at a time with the bicycle officers out in front.' 

Speaking outside the precinct Wednesday morning police chief Carmen Best confirmed her officers had reclaimed the precinct, with the help of Bellevue police and the FBI, but could not offer a timeframe on when they would move back in. 

She said: 'Our job is to support peaceful demonstration but what has happened on these streets over the last two weeks is lawless and it's brutal and bottom line it is simply unacceptable.'

At least 100 police officers swarmed the zone known as CHOP at about 5am and a loud bang was heard at about 6:15am followed by a cloud of smoke. 

Officers tore down demonstrators' tents and used bicycles to herd the protesters. 

Police tore down fences that protesters had erected around their tents and used batons to poke inside bushes, apparently looking for people who might be hiding inside.

Most protesters appeared to have dispersed several hours after the operations started and armed officers looked on from rooftops as clean-up crews of workers arrived to break down tables and tarps that protesters had set up in the zone.