Seven Arrested at Occupy Santa Rosa Rally, All From Sonoma County

Seven protesters were arrested during a rally and march in Santa Rosa which hundreds attended this afternoon, police said.

Activist groups, including Occupy Santa Rosa, Occupy Petaluma and the D.R.E.A.M. Alliance of Sonoma County, led the rally after organizers received a permit for the march, which began at around 1:30 p.m. near Sebastopol Road and West Avenue.   

"Today was all about building alliances with the immigrant community," Occupy Santa Rosa protester Carl Patrick said.

Police estimated that about 200 protesters participated in the rally and march, while protesters estimated more than 400 people participated. 

The rally began at noon at the former Albertsons supermarket parking lot at Sebastopol Road and West Avenue in Roseland, and marched to the Wells Fargo Bank at 200 B St. in downtown Santa Rosa.

At around 2:30 p.m. two protesters entered the Wells Fargo bank branch and created a disturbance, according to police.

Petaluma resident Jesse Brown, 28, and Carolyn Epple, 53, of Forestville were arrested and booked into Sonoma County Jail, police said.

The bank branch then closed to avoid more incidents with protesters, police said.

About an hour later, five protesters entered a bank branch at 2960 Cleveland Ave. They were asked to leave and refused, according to police, and were arrested.

They include Martin Olmsted, 21, of Petaluma; Kimberly Bringhurst, 21, of Santa Rosa; Deppin Webber, 43, of Rohnert Park; Anthony Delmonte, 34, of Healdsburg; and Julio Soto, 53, of Santa Rosa.

All of those arrested were booked into Sonoma County Jail and the bank branch also closed to avoid further conflicts, police said.

Patrick said all of the events today, including the arrests, were "totally civil and peaceful."

"The whole day was fairly calm and peaceful," he said.

-Bay City News