Update: Idaho State Police head to housing protest by Capitol twice in a day, arrest 4
For at least the sixth time in seven weeks, Idaho State Police went to a protest on the Capitol Mall calling attention to homelessness, arresting three people and citing four others. Later, troopers made another visit and arrested a fourth person.
Tents have been set up on the property of the former Ada County Courthouse in downtown Boise, across 6th Street from the Idaho Statehouse, since January as part of a protest calling for more resources for people needing housing and for more affordable dwellings in Boise.
The property is state-owned and falls under the jurisdiction of the State Police.
A 39-year-old woman was arrested on suspicion of felony possession of meth and misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia, and on a felony failure to appear warrant. The woman also received a citation for violating the provision of Idaho law that prohibits camping on the Capitol Mall, according to a news release from Idaho State Police.
A 40-year-old man was arrested on a misdemeanor failure-to-appear warrant and cited for violating the camping prohibition.
Police also placed a 56-year-old man who is on parole for a burglary conviction in the custody of the Idaho Department of Correction, according to the release and prison records.
The arrests were made Tuesday morning, a week after police conducted three arrests and issued 12 citations at the same location.
Troopers arrested the 19-year-old man during their second visit of the day on an outstanding warrant for failing to appear, according to a news release. State police responded to the property around 5 p.m. and originally cited the man for violation of public urination/defecation.
Idaho State Police called the law enforcement activity a “visit” and said “troopers will continue to respond to calls for service to the area, remove any unclaimed prohibited items, and check on the welfare of those on-site.”
Demonstrators are allowed to protest using tents but may not bring items that indicate camping, according to a court ruling.
Idaho Legal Aid, an advocacy group, has previously threatened legal action against the police for alleged violations of demonstrators’ First Amendment rights to protest and Eighth Amendment rights to sleep outdoors if other shelter is unavailable.
Reporter Alex Brizee contributed.
This story was originally published March 8, 2022 at 6:37 PM.
