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Police review videotape of City Hall occupation
Creating a disturbance, mischief are among the possible charges
By Jacquie De Almeida, The Hamilton Spectator, Monday, April 19, 2004Police are looking at a videotape of last Wednesday's council chambers occupation as they decide whether to recommend charges.
Investigators will pay particular attention to footage zeroing in on several softball-sized rocks left on the council floor under a seat, said Deputy Chief Ken Leendertse.
"We have to investigate why they were there and whether they were, in fact, weapons ... or a political statement," he explained.
Although he said he wasn't sure the rocks were brought in as weapons, Mayor Larry Di Ianni said he was upset over the discovery because they added "an element of danger."
One protester said the rocks had been used as paperweights at a rally outside City Hall.
Leendertse said investigators will review the tape "so that we have all the evidence in place in case we need to go forward with criminal or provincial charges."
He said that the possible charges include creating a disturbance, mischief and trespassing.
"We need to identify people who were there and if, in fact, they committed any criminal acts."
He added that many of the protesters were well known activists.
Several dozen protesters interrupted a meeting in a bid to press councillors to listen to their opposition to the Red Hill expressway, lack of action on poverty and privatization of Hamilton's water system.
Police were called in when protesters disrupted the meeting by beating drums, sitting in councillors' chairs and ignoring the mayor's requests to leave.
Several protesters jumped up on tables and bared their bottoms. Police removed several people but no arrests were made.
"We understand the rights of civil disobedience but the protesters did cross the line and disrupted a public meeting," Leendertse said.
"We don't want to have this boil over to the point where someone else gets hurt next time."
Police contacted Cable 14 on Thursday for a copy of its live broadcast of the previous day's meeting, which the community channel turned over.
Cable 14 general manager Brent Rickert said it wasn't an unusual request.
"It was a public broadcast, so it's not like we released material that we were the only ones in receipt of," he said.
"It's not any different from anyone else who was recording it with a VCR. It was all on the air."
Leendertse said police are working with city hall to review the building's security. They will be making recommendations.
"It's a real delicate balance. The public has a right to see things but when it infringes on the rights of others to the point of disturbances or acts of violence or mischief, then they are in fact committing criminal acts and that has to be examined," Leendertse said.