A Pennsylvania man was arrested Wednesday morning at the “Occupy SF” encampment at San Francisco’s Justin Herman Plaza after throwing a glass bottle at a city worker, police said.
The incident was reported at 10:28 a.m. Wednesday by an employee with the city’s Department of Public Works whose crew was preparing to conduct routine washing and disinfecting of the walkways and walls of the bocce ball courts at Justin Herman Plaza, according to police.
The employee told police that out of the corner of his eye, he saw someone throw an object at him. The object, a glass bottle, shattered on the ground, missing the employee’s legs.
The suspect allegedly told the employee “You are not coming in here,” police said.
Officers responded and arrested the man, identified as 34-year-old Jesse Nesbitt, on suspicion of assault and an outstanding warrant.
Nesbitt allegedly admitted to throwing the bottle, saying that city workers were not allowed into the plaza because “Occupy SF” campers could clean up after themselves, police said.
The arrest came after a Southern California man was cited at the encampment on Tuesday for carrying a concealed handgun. The weapon was not loaded, police said.
Despite the two arrests, Mayor Ed Lee said Wednesday that there are no immediate plans to remove the encampment, located in the public plaza at the foot of Market Street.
“I think that’s premature at this time,” he said.
However, the mayor said the demonstrators will have to cooperate with the city if they want to stay there.
“They’ve got to help us–if they’re going to exercise their First Amendment rights, they have to help us with the complaints we’re receiving,” he said. “That’s the only way to avoid confrontations.”
Dan McMenamin, Bay City News
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