Occupy Denver Protester Charged With Arson
DENVER (CBS4)- An Occupy Denver protester has been charged with arson in connection with a fire this week at Civic Center Park.
Michael Clapper, 22, has been charged with four counts of 4th degree arson.
The charges allege that Clapper set fire to a structure and other debris that was part of an Occupy Denver protest on Dec. 19 in Civic Center Park. Denver District Attorney Mitch Morrissey claims that Clapper endangered people who were nearby those structures.
Officers moved in with riot gear on just before midnight and firefighters and city cleanup crews were on hand as Broadway was closed while the action took place.
After the fire was set, authorities had to make sure no one was left in the makeshift dwellings the protesters have been living in and sleeping in.
Clapper was arrested at the scene and remains in the Denver Detention Center on a $50,000 bond. He is scheduled to appear in court Dec. 27 to be formally advised of the charges and could be sentenced to six years in jail if convicted.
Clapper told CBS4's Dominic Garcia that all he did was kick over a trash can and didn't know it was on fire. He also said that he grew up mostly in foster care.
About four months ago Clapper became homeless and found a family with Occupy Denver. Now he's worried about what he did to himself and the movement.
"Just because of the simple fact we're all getting arrested. Doesn't make us look all that good, you know," said Clapper. "I can't stay out there no more. I don't wanna get in trouble anymore."
The cleanup effort came after Chief Robert White met with protesters for almost an hour Monday night and gave his second warning that they needed to remove all of their stuff.
"We certainly value their First Amendment rights, and we're not trying to infringe on their First Amendment rights, but we also value the rights of the other citizens that live in our community and we want to make sure those rights are protected as well," White said early Tuesday morning at the scene of the cleanup.
See some of the images below from the protest site cleanup effort, or check out the full photo gallery.
