Some troopers used tasers on three protesters not long after the domed Legislative Building was closed to the public at 5:30 p.m. in a bid to keep the trio from pushing in through doors, agency spokesman Dan Coon said last night. Troopers later evicted 30 protesters, lifting them out the door one by one.
One employee of the Department of Enterprise Services, which is the landlord agency at the Capitol, also was reportedly injured in the ruckus on a day when most of the 3,000 protesters against budget cuts were peaceful.
The protesters were largely in favor of increased state revenues, with a split over whether to support a half-cent sales tax as Gov. Chris Gregoire proposes or trying to pin new costs on corporations and wealthy residents.
Here is the WSP’s news release on injuries and costs:
Of the six total, two were bite injuries. The other four were mostly bumps and bruises. Additionally, a state worker caught in a violent push by protestors received bruised ribs and minor facial injuries.
Total costs to date are estimated at $96,000, including straight time, overtime and travel costs.
• $76,000 in straight time for troopers who would have been working anyway.
• $12,000 in overtime.
• $8,200 in travel costs for troopers from outside the Olympia area.
Incident Commander Lt. Mark Arras says it’s important that the $76,000 in straight time not be written off lightly.
“The day to day work of troopers is important, or we wouldn’t have them doing it,” Arras said. “If your car broke down yesterday and you sat beside the freeway for an extended period, that soft cost suddenly has a very real impact.”
Estimated costs are conservative, and based on troopers schedules. Final costs will not be known until troopers turn in their actual timesheets. It’s expected both the straight time and overtime figures will grow.
Four people were arrested on charges ranging from disorderly conduct to felony assault. An additional 30 people who had to be removed from the Capitol Building received trespass warnings. Such warnings do not amount to a criminal charge, but those warned face immediate arrest if they return to any part of the Capitol Campus in the next 30 days.
Arras has pointed out in the past that anti-tax protests by so-called tea party activists did not cause disturbances or property damage.
