Several arrested as police clear out Nickelsville
SEATTLE -- About a dozen people were arrested Wednesday afternoon for refusing to leave the Nickelsville homeless encampment at a park in West Seattle.
The homeless residents set up camp at Terminal 107 Park on West Marginal Way in July, despite warnings that they would not be allowed to stay.
Officials issued a 1 p.m. deadline for the campers to get out. After a brief last-ditch negotiation with port officials, Nickelsville residents were ordered out by police officers.
Most people shuffled out of the encampment, but several people have refused to leave, and officers are using bullhorns to repeat the order to vacate.
Dozens of officers moved in and arrested those who tried to stay.
The 8-acre park is a former village site for the Duwamish Tribe, and is one of eight parks that belong to the Port of Seattle.
Port officials turned down a request from Nickelsville to be allowed onto the property, but without any other place to go, the residents moved in anyway.
Nickelsville was established last September as as an array of fuchsia-colored tents on adjacent city-owned property between the South Park and Georgetown neighborhoods. Three days later, city police cleared the site and arrested 25 people on trespassing charges that later were dismissed.
Organizers say St. Andrew's Episcopal Church in Green Lake has offered indoor and outdoor space for the next three months, but it was not immediately clear when or if the group would move there.
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Read more on our West Seattle community news site
The homeless residents set up camp at Terminal 107 Park on West Marginal Way in July, despite warnings that they would not be allowed to stay.
Officials issued a 1 p.m. deadline for the campers to get out. After a brief last-ditch negotiation with port officials, Nickelsville residents were ordered out by police officers.
Most people shuffled out of the encampment, but several people have refused to leave, and officers are using bullhorns to repeat the order to vacate.
Dozens of officers moved in and arrested those who tried to stay.
The 8-acre park is a former village site for the Duwamish Tribe, and is one of eight parks that belong to the Port of Seattle.
Port officials turned down a request from Nickelsville to be allowed onto the property, but without any other place to go, the residents moved in anyway.
Nickelsville was established last September as as an array of fuchsia-colored tents on adjacent city-owned property between the South Park and Georgetown neighborhoods. Three days later, city police cleared the site and arrested 25 people on trespassing charges that later were dismissed.
Organizers say St. Andrew's Episcopal Church in Green Lake has offered indoor and outdoor space for the next three months, but it was not immediately clear when or if the group would move there.
---
Read more on our West Seattle community news site
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