Protesters held on suspicion of vandalism

Marisa O’Neil

Four environmental activists, arrested over the weekend with 12

others who police say were beating on doors and breaking windows of a

local developer’s home, remained in custody as of 9:30 p.m. Tuesday

while the district attorney’s office decides whether to press

charges.

Police arrested 16 activists -- seven adults and nine minors -- on

suspicion of felony conspiracy to commit vandalism during a protest

that police said resulted in damage to the West Oceanfront home of

David Eadie, president of Rutter Development Co.

Melissa Rodriguez, arrested but released after posting bail, said

they were protesting Rutter’s proposed Saddle Creek and Saddle Crest

developments in Trabuco Canyon, which would fell acres of oak trees.

“We thought it was necessary to bring our message to David Eadie

in a peaceful way,” Rodriguez, 23, said.

Newport Beach Police said the protest was anything but serene.

“This was not a peaceful protest,” Newport Beach Sgt. Steve

Shulman said. “When police show up, peaceful protesters don’t run,

and they’re usually not all dressed in black.”

The protest started at about 8 p.m. Saturday, Rodriguez said, and

police showed up shortly afterward. Protesters were arrested because

they were causing damage to the house, Shulman said, not because they

were protesting.

“We didn’t arrest anyone for protesting on a sidewalk outside a

home,” he said. “They surrounded a house and started pounding on

doors and breaking windows of the residence.”

Shulman estimated the damage at $1,600. Eadie was not home at the

time, Shulman said.

Eadie did not return calls for comment.

The nine minors were released into the custody of their parents

shortly after their arrest, Shulman said. Three of the adults --

Rodriguez, of Anaheim, 22-year-old Dana Point resident Gregory Jones

and 24-year-old James Dutton of San Diego -- posted $20,000 bail each

and were released.

San Clemente resident Hector Ventura, 19, 20-year-old Running

Springs resident Paul Barron, 25-year-old Los Angeles resident

Nicholas Hensey and 19-year-old San Clemente resident Timothy Wright

II were still in custody on Tuesday afternoon but scheduled for

release that evening, according to the Orange County District

Attorney’s office.

Prosecutors postponed an arraignment scheduled for Tuesday morning

and have not decided if charges will be filed, Assistant Dist. Atty.

Robert Molko said.

The protest was an attempt to “put a face to the people opposed to

the development,” Rodriguez said. Many of the protesters were part of

Orange County Earth First, an environmental activist group, she said.

The proposed development, approved by county supervisors last

year, would build housing tracts on nearly 600 acres in Trabuco

Canyon. That would disrupt wildlife in the area and require them to

cut down 56 acres of old-growth oaks, Rodriguez said.

“It’s important that we focus on our habitat and preserve what we

have left,” said 17-year-old Irvine resident Sabrina Aller, one of

those arrested.

Rutter Development Co. also has a controversial development in the

works in Costa Mesa, where it plans to build more than 150

condominiums at 1901 Newport Blvd.

Several residents have opposed the 1901 Newport project, saying

its high density wasn’t fitting for the area.

After a lengthy battle, Rutter dropped a lawsuit against the city

and a citizen’s group in June alleging that a rehearing related to

the project was granted illegally, clearing the way for construction.

* MARISA O’NEIL covers public safety and courts. She may be

reached at (949) 574-4268 or by e-mail at marisa.oneil@latimes.com.