Police seek witnesses to parade arrests

Colorado Springs police say they want to hear from people who saw peace activists arrested last weekend at the St. Patrick’s Day Parade.

“If you have photographs or video, we would like to see them,” spokesman Lt. Rafael Cintron said.

The seven arrested on suspicion of failing to disperse, a misdemeanor, were marching Saturday with about 40 other people with the Pikes Peak Justice and Peace Commission. The group had a permit to march under the name The Bookman, a business owned by PPJPC Chairman Eric Verlo.

When parade organizers saw the group’s anti-war signs about two blocks into the downtown parade, they asked police to make the activists leave. Most complied, but some sat in the road, police said.

Activist Elizabeth Fineron, 65, was dragged across the street by police after she got into what she described as “a heated discussion” with officers. At least three others in the group were bruised after police grabbed them.

Activists said Monday that police didn’t give them enough time to disperse before arresting people. Officers said they gave several orders for people to leave.

Police hadn’t received any formal complaints by Monday afternoon, Cintron said, but an internal investigation is under way.

Thirty-five officers were assigned to the parade, and 14 were involved in the arrests, Cintron said.

Anyone who saw the arrests is asked to call police at 444-7417.