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Washington Police have arrested at least 12 people who occupied a hotel in Olympia in an alleged attempt to “forcefully take back the hotel” and demand that local authorities provide housing for homeless people during the coronavirus pandemic, according to local reports.
Olympia police have arrested at least a dozen homeless activists believed to be from the Oly Housing Now group, local King 5 news station reported. The group of about 45 stormed into Downtown Olympia Red Lion Hotel around 11 a.m. local time on Sunday, “armed with items such as axes, batons, knives and had gas masks, helmets and goggles apparently in preparation for a confrontation,” the city said in a report. subsequent press release.
WARNING: GRAPHIC LANGUAGE
Olympia officials said 40 hotel rooms had been booked by passers-by at the time of the apparent takeover.
HOMELESS ACTIVISTS OCCUPY WASHINGTON STATE HOTEL IN APPARENT RECOVERY ATTEMPT, AT LEAST 7 ON GUARD: REPORT
“Before the occupation, the activist group had previously booked 17 rooms, which were occupied by people currently not housed at the time of the occupation,” the city said.
One hotel worker was assaulted during the takeover, while the others sought refuge in the basement of the building, KING 5 reported. Members of the group passed the two floors of the hotel. hotel and would have covered the windows with dark tarpaulins.
HOMELESS OFFICIALS PAID BETTER THAN WHITE HOUSE CABINET MEMBERS AS THE CRISIS CONTINUES TO BUILD
Spectators took refuge in their rooms, the city said.
Police obtained a search warrant for conspiracy to commit burglary, burglary and trespassing, and a SWAT team was called to the scene.
The charges against the 12 people were not immediately clarified. It was not clear whether more people would be charged.
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David Aaro of Fox News contributed to this report.
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