Thursday, March 13, 2014

PRESS RELEASE FOR LNG PROTEST MARCH 13TH, 2014

    On March 13, 2014 members of the Calvert County Sheriff’s Office were assigned to the Calvert County Circuit Courthouse located at 175 Main Street, Prince Frederick, Calvert County, Maryland, for a possible protest rally that was alleged to have civil disobedience as a component.  The organizers of the protest had issued press releases and made public comment on social media sites that they intended to conduct acts of civil disobedience in protest to a proposed liquid natural gas liquefaction project that is in the Lusby area of Calvert County.  At approximately 11:00 a.m. a group of approximately 25 persons gathered at the corner of Main Street and Duke Street.  Some could be seen holding signs in opposition to the aforementioned proposed project.  At approximately 11:10 a.m. the group moved to the public square in front of the main entrance to the courthouse.  Members of the group held up signs, and others led chants on public address systems against the project.  A few moments later a female from the group approached Special Deputy Evan Elkins, who was assigned to the front entrance, and stated she had six people who intended to block the entrance of the courthouse and anticipated that arrests would be made by law enforcement.  Deputy Elkins advised her that blocking the entrance was illegal and those doing so would be arrested.  She stated she understood and offered to provide the identifications of those intending to be arrested.  Deputy Elkins told her she could keep the identifications until the persons were arrested. 
    A few moments later, six people, who were later identified respectively as David Brooke Hardy, 70, of Lusby, Emily Michaela Tanner, 20, of Virginia Beach, Gabriel Barrett McKinney, 18, of Baltimore, Ashok Lalchand Chandwaney 21, of Washington state, Ruth-Ann Lani Tyson, 20, of St. Mary’s City and Ori Michael Gutin, 19, of Rockville, walked to the front of the main entrance to the courthouse and stood shoulder to shoulder holding signs.  A female and male, not involved in the incident, approached the front door and were blocked by the six from entering the courthouse.  Special Deputy Elkins and Special Deputy Curtis Boswell informed the six offenders that they were under arrest and escorted them into the lobby where they were handcuffed, searched, and transported to the lock-up area for processing.
    All six were charged with CR 10-201 (c) (1) under the disturbance of the public peace laws. The charges filed were for *Disturb Peace Hindering Passage* the more specific charge is did willfully obstruct and hinder the free passage of another and others in a public place or on a public conveyance. All of the persons arrested complied and cooperated with law enforcement during the arrest processing phase. The charges filed are a misdemeanor and carry a fine of $500 or 60 days incarceration or both.