Sep 10, 2008 11:03 am US/Pacific
4 Tree-Sitters Not Students, 1 Had Criminal Record
BERKELEY (CBS 5 / BCN) ―
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Police arrest a tree-sitter on a scaffolding platform erected around a redwood tree in front of UC Berkeley's Memorial Stadium Tuesday.
CBS
University of California, Berkeley Police Chief Victoria Harrison said that four tree-sitters who were arrested Tuesday on multiple misdemeanor charges as part of a protest against a sports training center are all non-students.
Harrison said charges against the tree-sitters included trespassing and violating a court order to stay away from the site near the university's football stadium where it plans to build a $125 million sports training center.
According to Harrison, one of the tree-sitters, 26-year-old Michael Schuck, also had five warrants totaling $22,000 for previous arrests.
She said Schuck, who went by the name "Shem," previously was arrested in April 2007 for occupying a redwood tree in Sproul Plaza on campus.
Harrison identified the other tree-sitters as 20-year-old Armando Resenndez, also known as "Mando," 18-year-old Ernesto Trevino, also known as "Ernesto," and 27-year-old Raul Colocho, also known as "Huckleberry" or "Huck."
Harrison said the tree-sitters were taken to Alameda County's Santa Rita Jail in Dublin. It's possible they could be released on bail sometime soon.
After the tree-sitters came down from their perch atop a 90-foot-tall redwood tree Tuesday afternoon, a supporter on the ground walked among a large crowd of onlookers carrying a large can and asking people to contribute money for a bail fund.
Harrison also said five protesters on the ground were arrested on a variety of misdemeanor charges, including resisting arrest, battery on a peace officer and blocking traffic on Piedmont Avenue.
She identified those arrested as 25-year-old Philip Cornelison, 19-year-old Chad Walker, 19-year-old Eric Elliot, 35-year-old Eric Liebler and 24-year-old Matthew Marks.
Harrison said all except Marks are non-students.
(© CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Bay City News contributed to this report.)
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