Videos: NYPD Randomly Arrests Occupy Wall Street Protesters At Zuccotti Park

Eight Occupy Wall Street protesters were arrested in Lower Manhattan late last night as the NYPD shut down Zuccotti Park in a strong and often baffling show of force. At the height of the confrontation, there were approximately 40 NYPD officers monitoring around 30 protesters, and the arrests, many of which were seemingly arbitrary and incidental, were spurred after several protesters brought backpacks and sleeping bags into the park.

Charley, a protester who refused to give his last name, said that the group arrived at Zuccotti Park after a march from Union Square earlier in the day. "A few people have sleeping bags, and we have a huge rug too. We're basically seeing what [the police] will tolerate. I don't know that we're all planning on sleeping here."

Protesters claimed the park's private security force told them they could bring in blankets. "We can't look the other way but by all means," one of the guards said. A female NYPD officer strolling through the park grabbed a protester's blanket. "This is a sleeping bag," the officer determined, before reconsidering. "Or, no, it's a blanket. It's, it's a sleeping bag." The protester rolled up the blanket and walked out of the park. Officer DiPace told us, "The chief wants us to lock everybody up."

Shortly before midnight, a group of officers began moving through the park, inspecting bags, and shooing away the handful of protesters, some of whom scattered immediately rather than have their bags inspected. When asked what law they were breaking, Officer DiPace replied, "There's a law against everything. That's America." At the entrance to the park, the arrests began with the individual seen in this video, who insists police arrested him after sat down on the sidewalk.

Around the 1:23 and 1:30 marks of the video above, Officer Rosado (who declined to give his first name) can be seen ordering the arrests of two individuals standing in a small crowd outside of the park, shortly after the NYPD declared it closed. Those who objected to the arrests were arrested. The NYPD press office later told us there were eight arrests; seven were charged with disorderly conduct and one for obstructing governmental administration.

As the small group of protesters stood at the southeast end of the park, a handful began singing "American Pie." Officer McNamara quickly asked the group for its attention. "This is New York City, you can't be making noise at night," he said. "I don't want to have to put you away, but you have to be quiet. If not, you'll be next in the wagon. If you cross the line, you'll go to jail." Several protesters asked Officer McNamara why the park wasn't open as it was legally required to be, and he walked away.

Asked why the park was closed, one of the officers standing guard in the east end of the park replied, "Why are you asking stupid questions?" At this point, Officer Rosado began to point out people with backpacks to arrest who weren't standing inside the park, as if he was picking the remaining apples from a denuded tree. By 12:45 a.m., about 20 protesters remained.

"They arrest us for being here in communion with one another. For sitting and talking and having meaningful discourse," a young man named Chris O'Donnell observed. Soon after, another protester defiantly walked through the park, and police moved into make an arrest. As the unidentified demonstrator ran down Cedar Street, the police gave chase, and Officer Rosado derisively shouted, "Why are you running? I thought you believed in something!"

By 1 a.m., only police remained, guarding an empty park:

Additional reporting by John Del Signore and Katie Sokoler

Contact the author of this article or email tips@gothamist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By Christopher Robbins in News on February 29, 2012 10:00 AM

Comments [rss]

rab neutrino

Godillot of Paris was the first to use a hinged iron frame on a carpet bag,
in 1826. There then followed the Gladstone bag and the Rosebery, an
oval-top bag.

rab neutrino

Godillot of Paris was the first to use a hinged iron frame on a carpet bag,
in 1826. There then followed the Gladstone bag and the Rosebery, an
oval-top bag. Eventually these became the modern metal-framed briefcase.
The first of what is known as the modern rectangular briefcase is said
to have been invented by Jeremy Stenning in the late 1850s.

rab sleeping bags

Sleep is a naturally recurring state characterized by reduced or absent consciousness, relatively suspended sensory activity, and inactivity of nearly all voluntary muscles.

Matthew L Kees

True, we didn't start out to be anti-police. But, they put themselves in the way of assembly and free speech, so they MUST be dealt with.

And I couldn't agree more that strident application of law is DIRECTLY connected to income disparity. You can't get ahead if you are always in trouble with the police/courts. Add to that the 1%-ers got themselves deregulated by LAW in order to rob us.

The SYSTEM we do battle with is the LEGAL SYSTEM.

Matthew L Kees
@MLKstudios:disqus

Ira Wtcseventruth Steinhart

history is repeating itself again...only this time neocons have mastered the art of brainwashing and unfortuniyly the control grid is too far in place...we have been in a formal police state for at least the past 6 months... 9-11 was a bloodless coup that took 10 years to come full circle... only our youth has any chance to undo this terrible evil... god bless the occupy movement!

FalafelCart

You Americans know nothing about being in a police state. You act like spoiled children who complain about getting luxurious toys that are not the color requested. You throw tantrums over matters that are common place elsewhere. You just do not know how good you have it. What boggles the mind is how the protesters of this movement are weekend warriors who protest part time. The movement in my country was 24/7. You Americans need a serious thrashing with the sandal of Uncle Sam.

FalafelCart

Every day I sell food to the people near the park of Liberty Ave and I see what goes on. These dirty people only make trouble for the public and the police. I was there when the arrests were made and I saw when the police told them what the ramifications of their actions would be. Each person arrested chose to ignore the warnings. The first person arrested literally placed a blanket on the floor and laid out like it was a bed. The other black lady was also arrested for singing in an extremely loud manner. She too was warned but she continued her ridiculous behavior. Most of the people protesting are trouble makes who do not even bring the local merchants such as myself any business. Many times they come to my cart demanding handouts or scrap food and when denied they make trouble.
The police are not the villains here but instead it is these scoundrels who are. Please do not believe anything reported by these people and their lackeys for it is already tainted and skewed for a particular sector of society. Sympathy is a commodity that I can no longer afford to give these people of O.W.S.

LadyMillard

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

This is why I sing.

Bohemiaa

OMG who is that reporter with the press pass. SO HOT!!!!!!

LadyMillard

I was one of the protesters who was arrested- I was arrested for singing a religious song in the park." Amen... Praise the Lord Amen... Praise the Lord.... Glory.... Cops came in the park to arrest me. What happened to the first Ammendment?

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

MarkSimeone

Excellent coverage. My compliments to the Gothamist. Officer DiPace replied, "There's a law against everything. That's America." It made me think, he's right! Freedoms each legislation session are reduced as more laws are passed against everything and the law books grow thicker and thicker each time we add laws to enforce. The question is, how many laws do we have to add, before we look at another concept regarding freedom? I have an accompanied thought. "In America you are as free as your pocket book and not one thin dime more!"

Touche!

felixthecat

Ron Paul 2012. Take down Bloomberg and bellhop Kelly. NO more Police State.

Kelley Eidem

Let me check my cupboard for a bottle of sympathy. Dang...fresh out.

"Tim Osman"

Since you linked your facebook profile I took a quick look, you might be interested to know that they marched on the headquarters of Pfizer today and were pretty much stonewalled by the NYPD at every turn.

Brian Mastro

More like a dont forget we exist plea. Please just get out of my city

"Tim Osman"

Your city? Who do you think you are Mike Bloomberg?

NickHentoff

Inspector Salvatore DiPace Jr is currently assigned to the Counter Terrorism Bureau as the Lower Manhattan Security Initiative Coordinator. He is a 29 year veteran of the New York City Police department and has commanded the 110th Precinct and Roosevelt Avenue Task Force. He served as the Executive Officer of the 114th and 115th Precincts and the Operations Commander of Patrol Borough Queens North. Inspector DiPace has held other assignments within the Counter Terrorism Bureau, Manhattan South and Queens North Coordinator. He has earned a Bachelor of Science degree from the State University of New York. He is also a graduate of the FBI National Academy Session 204.

m

Please go home, please be quiet, please dont make it so my 92 grandmother who has lived downtown for all 92 years take the long way home....This not your city, you dont pay rent or taxes here, please take your protests to Washington and let Downtown be.....clearly you have an agenda, I respect your right to protest, I dont disagree with what your saying or doing, I just want you to leave so I can enjoy the park with my kids and family......

"Tim Osman"

The old NIMBY argument, cheers!

splinterfoot

the long way home? from where? we're fighting for your kids. they will get arrested if they bring a backpack into that park. that can't be enjoyable.