Police release video of violent Olympia protest

Olympia police released video Monday of protests that turned violent at Artesian Commons Park.

"They started to get vulgar and saying, 'F the police,' and 'Police are pigs' and chanting, and it just really, really got out of hand at that point,” said Heather Spradlin.

Spradlin is the store manager at The Pet Works, which sits next door to Artesian Commons Park. She said the store has received countless threats.

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Last week, someone tagged their store and a handful of others with the words, “Free the Commons."

Spradlin said she’s watched the city change.

"It's not just you're just like, 'Oh, avoid Fourth Avenue, it's, like, avoid all of downtown,” she said.

Since 2014, officers were called to Artesian Commons Park nearly 1,400 times.

"It wasn't a homeless problem. It was a problem about behavior and illegal, criminal, violent activity,” said city of Olympia Strategic Communications Director Kellie Purce Braseth.

Braseth said the city is trying to solve two separate issues.

Earlier this year, Thurston County conducted a study that found 130 people camping in downtown doorways. On top of that, the study found 633 people camping in urban areas in Olympia, Tumwater and Lacey.

"That's what we've become, a nuisance,” said Veronica Hardy. "They say there's a drug problem with all the homeless. Just because we're homeless doesn't mean we're on drugs."

To help, the city sanctioned two parking lots that are now filled with tents. They're also working with low-income housing providers and shelters and voted last week to fund a homeless response project.

Hardy wants to see more, including Artesian Commons Park opening back up.

"We're not camping, we're surviving,” she said.

The city of Olympia said there is currently not a plan in place for the future of Artesian Commons Park.

Cox Media Group