By Mike Donoghue
Vermont News First

WILLISTON — Vermont State Police said they arrested 13 people on criminal charges of unlawful trespass Friday after they refused to leave a private office building that houses a medical office, work space for Immigration and Customs Enforcement and a popular café.

State police, assisted by Williston Police, identified those refusing a lawful order to leave, as:

• Linda Ayer 74, of Burlington;
• Margaret Chadwell, 26, of Burlington;
• Nathaniel Maddison, 33, of South Burlington;
• Sherri Wormser, 58, of Colchester;
• Robin Chadwell, 28, of Jericho;
• Omega Haehnel, 27, of Springfield, VT;
• Lena Myers, 29, Norwich;
• Kate Pressgrove, 18, of Hanover, N.H.;
• Jackson Price, 20, of Hanover, N.H.;
• Gabriella Ross, 20, of Hanover, N.H.;
• Henry Dorr, 20, of Hanover, N.H.;
• Lexington Kennedy, 22, of New York, N.Y.;
• Roan Wade, 22, Red Hook, N.Y.

State police issued a second news release about 5:30 p.m. saying 12 people will be handled in adult court and one in juvenile court. The second news release was missing the name of Kate Pressgrove, who is 18.

It is unknown if Chittenden County State’s Attorney Sarah George will honor the court citations issued by Vermont State Police.

George has given a free pass to 23 out of 24 demonstrators arrested on misconduct charges during protests in Williston and South Burlington since February.

At least three – Wormser, Kennedy and Wade — have been arrested at earlier protests and were given a pass by George, records show.  During an earlier protest at the Williston building, two second-time offenders were not prosecuted by George.

The 13 trespassers on Friday were among a group of people who entered the White Cap Business Park on Industrial Avenue to protest federal agencies about 7:30 a.m., police said.

The building owner reported the individuals were trespassing, refused to leave when asked, and requested that police remove them from the property. Police had them cleared out by shortly after 10 a.m.

Most of the 13 protestors, including six from out-of-state, forced up to four police officers to carry each one out of the office building to awaiting transport vehicles.

State police, working in conjunction with the Williston Police Department, responded and spoke with protest leaders. That discussion led to several people leaving the inside of the building, while 13 others indicated they’d need to be arrested. Police complied with their requests.

The 13 individuals were taken into custody. They were transported to the state police barracks in Williston, where they were processed and released with citations to appear for arraignment in Vermont Superior Court in Burlington at 8:30 a.m. Sept. 24, police said.