Riot police ready for combat had raided Seattle’s CHOP area and regained control of the police-free zone where crimes had allegedly increased by 500% in the last three weeks.
As seen in the photos taken on Wednesday, Seattle police armed with batons, firearm, bikes, and armored vehicles made their way into the protesters-occupied zone and vacated the area.
Hours prior to the raid, the police issued a notice informing the public that they would be “enforcing the Mayor’s order.”
The decision to vacate CHOP by force followed after Mayor Jenny Durkan declared the assembly “unlawful” and called for all barricades separating the CHOP area from the rest of the city to be brought down.
“Because suspects in recent shootings may still be in the area, and because numerous people in the area are in possession of firearms, Seattle Police officers involved in this morning’s response will be equipped with additional protective gear,” the police warned in a tweet.
After moving in to reclaim the protesters-occupied area, the police allegedly arrested over three dozen people whereas they managed to regain control of the zone in just half an hour.
“Our job is to support peaceful demonstration but what has happened on these streets over the last two weeks is lawless and it’s brutal and bottom line it is simply unacceptable,” police chief Carmen Best expressed.
As she confirmed, the Seattle police received assistance from the FBI as well as Bellevue police. The police chief, however, didn’t provide details about when the officers would be moving back into their precinct building that they were forced to abandon after clashes with protesters back in June.
As the officers were preparing to regain the out-of-control zone, the majority of the protesters dispersed whereas one of them encouraged others not to taunt the police via his megaphone.
“We’ve made history. Everybody out. We’ll get another place. Don’t taunt the officers,” protester Rick Hearns said.
As the officers swept through the precinct, they tore down the barricades and the tents that the protesters had erected. Following at least 31 arrests, the police have reclaimed control of the precinct and ‘dismantled’ CHOP.
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Replaced!