(KGUN) — Three people were arrested for trespassing during a protest at a border wall construction site Monday afternoon.
According to the Cochise County Sheriff’s Office, the incident happened east of the Santa Cruz–Cochise County line.
Security at the site contacted the individuals, telling them they were not authorized to remain in the area. "The individuals were directed to leave but refused to comply," the office said.
The protesters then moved farther into the restricted area, accessing construction material, authorities said.
"Their actions created a safety and security concern for the protesters, construction personnel, private security personnel, and responding law enforcement officers."
Deputies responded and arrested three individuals. They were booked into the Cochise County Jail on disorderly conduct charges.
Sheriff Mark Dannels released the following statement:
The Cochise County Sheriff’s Office respects the right of individuals to peacefully protest and express their views. That right, however, does not extend to trespassing, damaging property, interfering with lawful operations, or creating a safety hazard, and we take a zero-tolerance approach to these actions.
Our responsibility is to protect the public, protect property, and enforce the law fairly and consistently. When individuals cross that line and violate the law, they should expect law enforcement to take appropriate action.
No one is above the law. We will continue to respond to these incidents in a coordinated, professional, and deliberate manner. Our expectation is simple: individuals may exercise their lawful rights, but they must also comply with the law.
