UPDATED: Santa Cruz Police Clear Out Occupy Campsite, Arrest Six

Shortly after 7 a.m. Santa Cruz Police surrounded the campsite behind the Santa Cruz County Courthouse and using bullhorns warned people to leave or be arrested.

Fewer than 40 people were there, down from more than 100 two days earlier. But a Santa Cruz eviction order was approved in court Wednesday and campers knew they would have to leave.

Most gathered things and left. A few took on police officers. One spit at an officer; another threatened violence. A few tried to stop police from moving into the camp, according to Police Chief Kevin Vogel.

No one was injured.

"It went extremely well today,'' Vogel said. "We had a comprehensive plan we were able to execute in a textbook manner. We were hoping not to arrest anyone."

Police lined both footpaths leading to San Lorenzo Park and State Park officers stopped people from using the south side of the bridge over the river, saying it was a "crime scene." Vogel later said the bridge was closed off to prevent possibly aggressive protestors from taking out their anger downtown. He said he wanted to prevent what happened on May Day 18 months ago, when anarchists smashed windows during a parade.

Meanwhile as many as 90 officers were on hand at 7:45 a.m., some from Watsonville, Scotts Valley, Capitola, the Sheriff's Department and the State Parks Department, to make sure the process went peacefully.

They formed lines and moved into the camp, emptying it and organizing a cleanup.

Arrested for obstructing or delaying officers were: Gabriella Ripley Phipps, 24, a spokeswoman for the Occupy movement at the bank takeover last week; Alfonso Martinez, 34; Patrick Wilhelmy, 23; Amanda Senseman, 22; Jane Doe, a woman who refused to provide information; and Christina Foster, 34, on an outstanding felony warrant.

The arrestees were held on $25,000 bail, except Wilhelmy, whose bail is $50,000. Vogel said he asked for enhanced bail amounts the misdemeanors because he felt the arrestees were a flight risk and wouldn't appear in court without steep bail.

Police said about 8 tons of trash was taken and $5,000 of damage was done to the area. They also claimed expenses of $15,000-$20,000 for the cleanup done by Santa Cruz Public Works and Parks and Recreation workers. Workers filled one 12,000 pound truck and then put about 4,000 pounds of trash in a second one, Vogel said.

Response to the action was mixed from passersby.

One man parked his pickup in front of the officers, jumped out and said, "Thanks for your service. We appreciate the work you are doing."

Moments later a woman on a bicycle rode by and said: "Why don't you go arrest rich people?"

A park ranger snickered to his friend: "That's what I try to do all the time. License and registration, please."

Most of the Occupiers knew there time was up and held a meeting Wednesday to talk about the future of the movement. They agreed to continue working toward their goal of spreading awareness about financial inequities and needs for homeless and other services, but not necessarily from a campground.

They talked about securing an office or meeting space. Meanwhile, they agreed to continue nightly meetings at the courthouse steps and spread information on various social media platforms, including Facebook and Twitter.

"This took tremendous energy and tremendous cost to the city," said Vogel. "We let those folks get their message out for two months. We are all about protecting peoples' First Amendment rights, but once they started breaking the law an destroying property, it needs to end."

For Patch's complete coverage of Occupy Santa Cruz, please visit our Occupy Santa Cruz page.