St. Paul Police Ready Temporary Holding Cells for RNC Protestors

The St. Paul Police Department is busy preparing a temporary holding facility for protestors arrested at the upcoming Republican National Convention (RNC). According to a story on the corporately owned MyFox9, the St. Paul Police Department is converting a parking ramp adjacent to the Ramsey County Detention Center to function as a holding cell for those committing misdemeanors during the RNC. Protestors who commit felonies will be held in the county jail next door which can accommodate 500 protestors.

According to the report, Ramsey County Sheriff Bob Fletcher said that the city is planning for hundreds of arrests. He says that “it would be fair to conclude between the RNC in Philadelphia in 2000 and in NYC in 2004… About 600 people were arrested in Philadelphia and about 1,800 in New York City.”

The police are also claiming that those with identification who are arrested for misdemeanor charges will be released with a ticket within four hours. Of course, this could change at any time and police can legally hold people for up to 36 hours, not including holidays and weekends.

In order to prepare for possible arrest and or interactions with the various law enforcement jurisdictions in the Twin Cities, the Coldsnap Legal Collective has produced an informative primer on what to expect from the legal system.

Related Posts:

1. St. Paul Police Document Could Authorizing Spying on RNC Organizing
2. Amnesty International Criticzes use of Force against RNC Protestors
3. RNC Protest Report Finds Little Fault in Police Conduct
4. Council Members Call for Investigation of RNC Police Tactics
5. Video Used to Clear RNC Protestors of Charges in NYC

Tags: rnc