Protesters of Montauk Dune-Erosion Project Arrested

A total of five people have been arrested for protesting the dune-erosion project by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers on a Montauk beach.

On Friday morning, three people, Montauk residents James Katsipis and Sarah Conway and Tom LaGrassa of Springs were arrested for disorderly conduct by East Hampton police at the beach off South Emerson Avenue, Newsday reports.

The three, who were part of a group of about a dozen protesters on the beach who formed an “arm-in-arm blockage” in order to stop the Army Corps from using heavy equipment, were released and ordered to appear in court on Dec. 2, according to Newsday.

The three were the ones who did not disperse after the police asked them to, according to the report.

On Monday morning, Bess Rattray and Lisa Spellman were also arrested for disorderly conduct after ignoring orders to leave when they walked into a pit dug by a excavator working nearby, according to The East Hampton Star.

They were order to appear in court on Nov. 18, according to The East Hampton Star.

The East Hampton Town Police wrote a message on their Facebook page stating that the officers have “shown protesters respect,” which should ”serve as a reminder of the foundations of policing - citizens policing the community, without bias or an agenda.”

“Our thanks go out to the polite and courteous people who have turned out to voice their concerns and opposition. An issue as important as our most vital natural resources is certainly worthy of the passion and commitment being shown,” the message reads. ”The mutual respect and cooperation being exhibited is admirable. We are proud of our department members, and we are proud of the community we serve that such a relationship exists.”

The project has begun despite the lawsuit filed in federal court stating that the project will destroy the beach and could potentially flood downtown Montauk.

Town officials have stated that the project could not be stopped because the town voted for the project, now under contract with the Army Corps, but opponents have said that destroying the natural dunes and replacing it with “hard structures” will ruin the look of the beach, Newsday reports.