Group lights dumpster fires, fireworks in short-lived barricade in downtown Olympia

A group of about 30 people barricaded the intersection of Chestnut Street and 4th Avenue Monday night, setting off fireworks and lighting dumpsters on fire in front of City Hall.

The whole event lasted about 30 minutes, Olympia police say.

About 10 p.m., a group started walking through downtown, taking plywood from businesses and dragging trash bins and dumpsters from alleys to place in the street, according to Olympia Police Department Lt. Paul Lower.

The group also broke windows elsewhere downtown, including at the 123 4th Avenue apartment building and the Childhood’s End Art Gallery, according to Lower.

Olympia Police arrived about 10:30 p.m. and issued a dispersal order, and the group quickly moved away.

Olympia Fire Department put out three dumpster fires, according to Battalion Chief Dave Haag.

This story was originally published July 7, 2020 at 12:00 PM.