By about 7:30 p.m. they had pulled out "at least 10," he said. People were going peacefully and fewer than 50 people remained inside the building. Protesters were chanting "shame, shame, shame.''
The activists had been told that if they had to be forcibly removed they would be given 30-day no trespassing orders that would keep them off the entire Capitol Campus, including Heritage Park where an Occupy Olympia group has been camped for several weeks.
State Patrol Chief John Batiste said the Department of Enterprise Services made the decision to close the building, which forced his troopers to clear the hallways. "I think it went well in terms of their [protesters'] ability to come here and freely express themselves,'' Batiste said.
He said only a small number were being arrested and most were being given warnings.
Patrol spokesman Dan Coon said about 30 were being evicted and given no-trespass warnings.
Over the course of the day, four protesters were arrested - one for disorderly conduct, two for third-degree assault of a trooper and one for fourth-degree assault of a DES employee, Coon said. Other misdemeanor charges also were being recommended for some of the arrested subjects.
ORIGINAL POST: Washington state troopers used stun guns to jab three protesters with electrical probes this evening as they tried to keep the activists from entering the state Capitol after it was closed. A protest against state budget cuts by upward of 200 people is continuing, and it could lead to arrests.
“We’d rather not do arrests but we are prepared to if need be,’’ State Patrol spokesman Dan Coon said a few minutes ago [about 6:40 p.m.]. Coon explained that protesters are being given additional chances to leave voluntarily. “It’s still very fluid. Lots of things are going on.’’
Coon also confirmed that tasers were used to zap protesters that tried to push past troopers guarding the north doors of the Legislative Building:
Coon described the use of tasers as a “dry stun” in which the subject is jabbed by the electrical probes rather than shot by electrically charged arts. “I’m not sure it sends the same juice as with the two darts, but the individual knows they just got tased. They knew they got it,’’ Coon said.
It was not immediately clear how the matter might end. Steve Valandra of the Department of Enterprise Services, which manages the building, said protesters were saying they were holding an "occupation," not a protest.
The building is locked to new entries, but my reporting partner Jordan Schrader has been in the building. We should have more later.
