SANTA CRUZ, Calif. -- Santa Cruz County sheriff's deputies confiscated some property from the Occupy Santa Cruz encampment in front of the county courthouse early Monday morning, issuing one citation during enforcement of the county's lodging ban.
A contingent of deputies dismantled at least one tent and some tables a little after 5:00 Monday morning, placing them and some signs in the back of a sheriff's office pickup truck. Protesters said the latest action, in addition to similar enforcement measures over the weekend, won't dampen their resolve.
"We're not moving," said Occupy Santa Cruz demonstrator Kim Bridges. "We will probably set up more tents again. I think we should make our presence up here bigger and better than ever."
Santa Cruz County sheriff's Lt. Bob Pursley said authorities have notified demonstrators that they are in front of the courthouse unlawfully.
"Right now with that group, we're looking at unlawful lodging," said Pursley. "The attitudes within that group have changed, they've become more aggressive and our officers responded appropriately and did their job."
Deputies did not attempt to dismantle a geodesic dome that serves as the physical and symbolic center of the local Occupy movement.
"The dome binds individual pieces that by themselves are fragile, but in this configuration they support each other to form a single, sturdy structure," said Bridges, who with others pledged to defend it. "In this way, the dome symbolizes what we desire to create."
Pursley said county officials were researching the legality of the dome remaining on county property.
"We want to make sure we do this legally and above board, and that everyone involved is noticed that the structure is illegal, but we want to make sure we do it correctly," Pursley said.
Pursley said sheriff's officials would decide on a further course of action regarding the encampment after meeting with county supervisors and attorneys.
Anybody who wants to claim their property can contact the Santa Cruz County Sheriff's Office. If they provide proper identification and describe their property, it will be returned to them at no charge, Pursley said.
Since early October, the majority of the Occupy Santa Cruz movement has been camping in nearby San Lorenzo Park, which is City of Santa Cruz property. Last week, the city filed a lawsuit asking for an injunction against the protest in the park, calling it a public nuisance. A judge is expected to rule on the matter on Wednesday -- the same day as a city deadline for the camp to clear out of the park. Demonstrators have expressed their desire to challenge the constitutionality of the city's suit in federal court.
