Raleigh police reported six protesters were arrested by Crabtree Valley Mall police Friday afternoon in the food court of the mall.
Arrest warrants say the protesters created a disturbance in the mall as part of the "Occupy Raleigh" movement. Two of those arrested maintain they are friends with those arrested, but they were shopping and not actively protesting.
"When I was out there an officer identified me as one of the people in the group and they arrested me," said Charles Hancock.
Police said the protesters were warned not to go inside themall and were told they could have demonstrated legally on sidewalks next to the mall.
“Prior to the arrests being made, Crabtree officials had conveyed to the protestors that they would not be permitted to demonstrate on the mall's property, and the RPD had offered to facilitate a protest by the group on the public sidewalks adjacent to the mall,” said Raleigh Police spokesperson Jim Sughrue.
Crabtree Valley Mall issued a statement about the incident: "It is the responsibility of Crabtree Valley Mall to provide a safe shopping environment for our customers at all times. Families choose Crabtree Valley Mall to conduct their holiday shopping and it is our goal to provide them with a safe and enjoyable shopping atmosphere during the holidays."
The six people were charged with disorderly conduct and second degree trespassing.
They were identified as Paul "Roger" Ehrlich of Cary, Jennifer Schradie of Chapel Hill, Emily Galvin of Raleigh, Charles Hancock of Raleigh, Derek Cronmiller of Raleigh, and Patrick O'Neill of Garner.
"I probably would have done a bunch of shopping if they refunded our tax money that bailed out some of those banks and financial companies," said Ehrlich.
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