Crime & Safety
2 Arrested During Group Protest in Front of TD Bank of Dakota Pipeline
The group blocked the entrance to the bank and stood on private property. Two locked themselves in a barrel filled with concrete.
WORCESTER, MA—Two are facing charges after refusing to move off private property during a protest in Worcester.
On Thursday, Nov. 14, around 10:43 a.m., Worcester police responded to TD Bank at 370 Main St. for a report of a demonstration taking place in front of the bank. Roughly 25 people had gathered to protest the Dakota Pipeline, but stood on private property in front of the bank, and also prohibited people to get into the bank by that entrance.
Officers met with the owner's assistant, explaining that the owner wanted the group to leave his property. The group had been asked to leave, and refused to do so, said police. Police asked the group to leave the immediate area, and to move on to nearby public property.
The group complied with the exception of two people, who had locked themselves through a barrel filled with concrete. The device, commonly known as a “sleeping Dragon,” was placed in front of the bank door and locked to the handles, said police. The two people attached to the device were Kyle Schulz, 27, Castle Street, and Jennifer Burt, 31, Pleasant Street, Worcester. The two had locked themselves to each other after placing their arms inside the barrel.
Members of the Worcester Fire Department responded to the scene and had to cut their way through the device in order to free the two. The procedure took over an hour to complete. Once freed the two were placed under arrest and charged with Trespassing and Disorderly Conduct.
After the arrests were made, the remaining group disbursed without incident.
The two, who were unhurt, will be arraigned at the Worcester County District Courthouse.
