Charges Filed In Occupy LA Arrests

LOS ANGELES (CBS) — The City Attorney's Office filed misdemeanor charges Thursday against 19 people arrested during Wednesday's Occupy L.A. police raid, with dozens more cases expected to be filed tomorrow.

Eighteen people who were arrested as police conducted the pre-dawn raid Wednesday morning were charged with failing to disperse from an area near First Street and Broadway. They were not among those arrested for refusing to leave the Occupy L.A. encampment in the park surrounding City Hall.

A 19th person, Tyler Header, was charged with battery on a peace officer, assault on a peace officer, and resisting arrest for allegedly spitting on an officer and resisting arrest.

The court set bail amounts ranging from $5,000 for most of the defendants, up to $20,000.

LAPD officers arrested a total of 292 people at City Hall and in surrounding areas during the raid.

As of 3 p.m. Thursday, LAPD officials had submitted 150 arrest reports for review by the City Attorney's Office. The remaining reports are expected to be submitted Friday morning to meet the deadline to file charges.

Those without prior criminal records and who are charged with nonviolent crimes such as failing to disperse are likely to be let go without bail. They will have to pay a fee and take a class given by American Justice Associates focused on the balance between public rights and individual free speech rights, according to city attorney's spokesman Frank Mateljan. The city attorney can file charges if the program is not completed within one year, he said.

Mateljan says after a preliminary review of the reports filed, the City Attorney's Office estimates about 50 of those arrested will be eligible for the pre-filing diversion program.

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