(Twitter user @OccupyOC) |
SANTA ANA (KTLA) -- After a day of peaceful protests, four men were arrested early Sunday at an Occupy Orange County demonstration in Santa Ana.
Over 125 demonstrators had joined in the event outside the Civic Center throughout the day and staying past dark, knowing authorities had warned that they not stay overnight.
The men, identified as Sam Aresheh, 23, Timothy Craven, 24, Shay Palmer, 24, and Anthony Velloza, 27, were arrested after setting up tents despite a city ordinance that bans camping.
Aresheh posted a sign on his tent as the group was being arrested, saying "I am wrongfully being arrested for 'camping' yet I am not 'camping,' I'm engaging in a long-term peaceful assembly," according to the Orange County Register
Velloza, an Iraq war vet, also told the Register he "did not serve in Iraq advocating 'freedom' to return to a police-run state."
The four men were cited for camping and released shortly before 4 a.m. Sunday, according to police.
The group took to Twitter, posting the phone number for the Santa Ana District Attorney's office to ask for their release. "The four arrested during #OccupyOC have been released & none of them regret their decision of free speech & long term peaceful assembly," a tweet read.
Protests were scheduled to continue until 8 p.m. Sunday.
They are set to appear in court on Dec. 5.
Over 125 demonstrators had joined in the event outside the Civic Center throughout the day and staying past dark, knowing authorities had warned that they not stay overnight.
The men, identified as Sam Aresheh, 23, Timothy Craven, 24, Shay Palmer, 24, and Anthony Velloza, 27, were arrested after setting up tents despite a city ordinance that bans camping.
Aresheh posted a sign on his tent as the group was being arrested, saying "I am wrongfully being arrested for 'camping' yet I am not 'camping,' I'm engaging in a long-term peaceful assembly," according to the Orange County Register
Velloza, an Iraq war vet, also told the Register he "did not serve in Iraq advocating 'freedom' to return to a police-run state."
The four men were cited for camping and released shortly before 4 a.m. Sunday, according to police.
The group took to Twitter, posting the phone number for the Santa Ana District Attorney's office to ask for their release. "The four arrested during #OccupyOC have been released & none of them regret their decision of free speech & long term peaceful assembly," a tweet read.
Protests were scheduled to continue until 8 p.m. Sunday.
They are set to appear in court on Dec. 5.
