[UPDATED with Arrestee Account:] Reports: Santa Ana Occupiers Finally Released

By Brandon Ferguson Mon., Dec. 5 2011 at 1:16 PM

Categories: Occupy OC

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UPDATE DEC 5, 2011 1:15 P.M.: Lest you think all Occupiers arrested last week outside Los Angeles City Hall are just a bunch of whiny liberals spouting trumped-up claims of police brutality, we present Massimo Marini. The 28-year-old activist was among at least four Orange County Occupiers nabbed by Los Angeles Police in an early morning raid on the Occupy LA protest camp, which had been flourishing since early October.

All have since been released. Marini's biggest complaint about his 72 hours in captivity? The food apparently wasn't that good-- but at least it was served three times a day.

Guards were thoughtful enough to bring in movies for the inmates' viewing pleasure including: Avatar, Hancock and Behind Enemy Lines. At this time, there's no word on whether Marini will be filing charges of cruel and unusual punishment against the LAPD for using a Will Smith movie as psychological torture.

Though there were Occupiers who gave accounts of police brutality during the raid, Marini didn't see any with his own eyes. "I didn't feel like my rights were violated," he said.

Describing what it was like being behind bars for a cause he believes in, Marini mentioned the harshness of the experience was mitigated by the sense of purpose he felt. "My cell mate said 'this is the first time I've been in jail without the self reflection of "What am I doing with my life?'" When Occupiers were released from custody Friday morning, there was a large crowd shouting support.

"The movement is out from behind bars and stronger than ever," Marini said.

LA Weekly

ORIGINAL POST DEC. 2, 3:31 P.M.: The Weekly has just spoken with the girlfriend of one of the four Santa Ana Occupiers being held by the Los Angeles Police Department since Tuesday morning. According to Allyson Crosby, her boyfriend Massimo Marini, who was arrested in the early-morning raid on the Occupy LA encampment, has been released from custody and the charges against him dropped. Another Occupier, Edith Gonzalez was released earlier today. Two other arrestees, Jedediah Poole and Nicholas Dorsey are still believed to be in custody.

Most of the 292 brought in by the LAPD for failing to disperse from an unlawful assembly face bail amounts of $5,000-- a figure which outraged National Lawyers Guild Attorneys representing the activists.

LAPD Spokesman Richard French told the Weekly he didn't know exactly how many protesters have been released at this point, but said the figure he received last night was 50. French said all arraignments and adjudications for those involved in Tuesday's event were expected to be completed by the end of the day today. We are currently waiting to hear from the Santa Ana jail birds and will be providing updates as soon as possible. Stay tuned.

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