Police Raid Homeless Encampments Prior to Occupy Protest

Police Commander Chris Russ told a group of residents Wednesday night that the department conducted sweeps of large homeless encampments prior to the occupy protest aimed at the 123rd Tournament of Roses parade Jan. 2.
“We wanted to make sure that everyone understood, you weren’t going to spend the night in our parks,” he said. “You weren’t going to spend the night near our freeways and create a problem.”
Although he was not specific, Russ said they first cleared a large homeless encampment near an off ramp of 210 freeway on west side of the city and then later conducted another sweep in east Pasadena. Both incidents occurred “about a month and a half ago,” he said.
Russ made the comments while talking about a newsletter sent out by Chief Phil Sanchez as an email blast about post police events and instances. He said anyone can sign up to get the info by emailing the department.
Pasadena police doubled the number of law enforcement agents patrolling the parade and skies, in addition to extra officers there were also extra sheriff’s deputies, CHP, and undercover federal agents according to a press release sent out at the time.
Occupy the Rose Parade organizer Peter Thottam estimated other 1,000 people marched in the event tagged to the end of the official parade.