A protester sits in E Pine during May Day 2014 demonstrations on Capitol Hill (Image: CHS)

Seattle Police made 10 arrests during the city’s May Day demonstrations last week, seven of which occurred on Capitol Hill. Half of the arrests made were for assault and only three were related to property damage.

• Thomas Sutherland, 22, was arrested for property damage at Broadway and Pike. He pleaded not guilty to property destruction and graffiti charges.
• A 23-year-old man was arrested for assaulting an officer at 6th and Battery. Officers also recovered a gun on the man during the arrest. Prosecutors have not filed any charges.
• An 18-year-old man was arrested for malicious mischief and at 6th and Virginia, where he damaged at least one vehicle. Prosecutors have not filed any charges.
• Merrell Acosta, 22, was arrested for obstruction at 5th and Virginia. He pleaded not guilty to the charge.
• A 37-year-old man was arrested for assault at Broadway and Pine. Prosecutors have not filed any charges.
• A 21-year-old man was arrested for assault at Broadway and Pine. Prosecutors have not filed any charges.
• Robert Klich, 19, was arrested for assault at Broadway and Pine. He has pleaded not guilty to the charges.
• A 20-year-old man arrested for assault at Broadway and E Olive. Prosecutors have not filed any charges.
• A minor was arrested for property damage at 6th and Pine and released to their parents.
• A minor was arrested for obstruction at Broadway and Pine and booked into the Youth Services Center.

At this time, we’re not aware of any formal complaints about SPD use of force during the protest response.

May Day 2014 was noticeably less violent and resulted in less property destruction compared to recent years. In 2013 SPD arrested 17 people, and reported eight officer injuries; SPD reported two minor officer injuries this year. Police were again armed with flash bombs and pepper spray but used them relatively sparingly on the Hill including when protestors set a fire in the middle of Broadway and Pine. No arrests were directly related to the fire, an SPD spokesperson told CHS, although arrests were made at the intersection,

Seattle Police Interim Chief Harry Bailey called this year’s May Day a “success” for SPD during a press conference. When asked why officers allowed groups of protestors to march through Capitol Hill and downtown without a permit, Assistant Police Chief Paul McDonagh said the city supports people exercising their First Amendment rights. As in 2013, some protesters were also heard asking others not to act violently toward police. “They’re doing their jobs,” one protester shouted. “Don’t lower yourself to violence.”