(The Center Square) – Three people received tickets for disorderly conduct after police forcibly removed someone following public comment about a data center project in front of the Port Washington Common Council.
Christine Le Jeune of the data center opposition group Great Lakes Neighbors United spoke against the $8 billion vantage data center project in Port Washington and, after her allotted three minutes, shouted “shame” and “recall” as she headed to her seat.
Video from the meeting then showed a police officer approaching Le Jeune in the audience and asking her to leave.
Le Jeune would not leave and then a second officer approached and then began pulling on her arms to remove her from the meeting. Le Jeune and two others were then taken to the floor in the meeting room and handcuffed before being removed from the building.
Police issued a statement on Wednesday afternoon about the incident.
“The female refused numerous lawful requests by an officer to leave the room at which time officers attempted to escort the female from the room,” wrote Police Captain Craig Czarnecki. “When officers attempted to escort the female from the chambers, she engaged in ‘passive resistance’ going limp and refusing to move necessitating officers to have to lift or drag her through the aisle and toward the door. During that time that individual was kicking toward officers, actively resisting arrest, and continuing her behavior which led to this disturbance growing unnecessarily.”
Video from Port Washington of the meeting does not show most of the incident but the argument can be heard and then the council was asked to leave the room.
After more than 30 minutes, the council returned.
“A reminder that we expect everyone here to treat everyone with respect,” City Attorney Matthew Nugent said. “If people are speaking, we expect that people will not interrupt them. If you cannot treat others with respect, you will be asked to leave. If you are asked to leave, you do need to leave.”
Police said that two of the individuals arrested were released at the scene and “a third was released from the Police Department after obstructing the arresting officer by initially refusing to identify herself.”
Police said that women aged 43, 52, and 55 were issued the tickets.
