Seventy-nine people were arrested in connection to the pro-Palestinian protest at the University of Texas on Monday, according to the Travis County sheriff’s office.
Seventy-eight of those arrested were charged with criminal trespass, and one person received an additional charge of obstructing a highway or passageway, said Kristen Dark, sheriff’s office public information officer. One person was also charged with interfering with public duties, Dark said.
Unlike last week, the University of Texas Police Department was not the lone arresting agency. Dark said the Austin Police Department is listed as the arresting agency for four protesters.
The 57 people arrested at last Wednesday’s protest all faced criminal trespassing charges, though all of those charges were dropped.
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Attorneys were told Monday night that probable cause affidavits for those arrested wouldn’t be sent in until Tuesday. This differs from how UT police handled the process last week, when lawyers said the department essentially “copied and pasted” each affidavit. That resulted in all of the charges being declined by the Travis County attorney’s office, which handles misdemeanor cases and is led by Delia Garza.
Those affidavits are required for someone to be released from jail so a magistrate judge can determine how to proceed with setting bond or if charges will be prosecuted.
As of 8:15 am, Dark said none of those arrested had yet seen a magistrate judge. George Lobb, an attorney with the Austin Lawyers Guild, said the first probable cause affidavits were sent in at about 8:45 am
A probable cause affidavit shared with the American-Statesman concerning Monday’s protest shows that officers put more detail into the affidavit. Details about the officers giving dispersal orders and how the protesters failed to comply are explained in the affidavit, in contrast to the affidavits last week, most of which only said the arrested person was “given notice to disperse from property and failed to do so. “
Garza told the Statesman last week that there was “insufficient probable cause” to pursue charges against the protesters who were arrested Wednesday. In reference to the charges filed against those arrested Monday, Garza said her office will “provide an update … when we know more.”
