TCSO: 79 arrests made during UT protests on Monday

AUSTIN (Talk1370.com) -- 79 people were arrested during protests on the University of Texas campus on Monday, according to details released Tuesday morning by the Travis County Sheriff's Office.

Dozens of protesters were taken into custody after a makeshift encampment was set up on the South Mall Monday afternoon.

According to TCSO, 78 of the arrests were for criminal trespass. One of those individuals is facing an additional charge of obstructing a highway or passageway, and an additional individual is facing a charge of interfering with public duties.

UT officials addressed the protests in a statement Monday evening, saying many of those involved were believed to not be affiliated with the university.
"A number of protestors... erected a tent encampment on the South Lawn, with a barricade enclosure of tables secured by metal chains, and strategically placed tools, tents, and rocks," the statement reads. "When approached, protestors escalated by becoming physically and verbally combative with Dean of Students’ staff. In response, the University of Texas took swift action to preserve a safe, conducive learning environment for our 53,000 students as they prepare for final exams."

Monday marked the final day of classes for the spring semester.

"UT Austin requested backup assistance from the Texas Department of Public Safety to protect the safety of the campus community and enforce our Institutional Rules, such as the rule that prohibits encampments on campus," the statement continues. "Because of the encampments and other violations of the University’s Institutional Rules related to protests, protestors were told repeatedly to disperse. When they refused to disperse, some arrests were made for trespassing. Others were arrested for disorderly conduct."

Monday's arrests follow the events of last Wednesday, which saw 57 individuals arrested for criminal trespass. Those charges were ultimately dropped due to concerns with probable cause affidavits, according to a statement from Travis County Attorney Delia Garza's office.