Posted by John Fernandes on March 29, 2016 at 11:01 AM

One Arrested as Crowd in House Gallery Protests Voting Snafus

This article was written by Gary Grado and Rachel Leingang for the Arizona Capitol Times.

One man is behind bars after activists halted today’s House floor session with chanting, jeering and a tussle with police.

Activists, stoked by rowdy proceedings in the House Elections Committee earlier in the day, filled the gallery.

They had arrived in the morning to attend the committee hearing where election officials explained what went wrong with the March 22 election in which many voters waited in line for hours. The hearing was cut short so lawmakers could attend the floor session.

The trouble started as lawmakers began reciting the Pledge of Allegiance.

Adriana Espinoza, an activist sitting directly behind the main agitator, said a small group in unison added their own ending to the pledge by saying “in liberty and justice for some.”

She said that prompted security to start pointing out disruptive people.

Elizabeth Brown, a state Senate candidate who attended the hearing earlier, said one man was the most disruptive, chanting “re-vote,” but he left without incident when asked.

Espinoza and Brown said a security official pointed out a man in a Guy Fawkes mask and wearing dreadlocks as an agitator, but they said he sat quietly as the main agitator led chants.

Officers run toward the House of Representatives on March 28, 2016, after chaos in the House gallery. (Photo by Gary Grado, Arizona Capitol Times)

The man with the mask refused to leave and when police put their hands on him he clutched onto his chair. Those around him started screaming that the police were out of line, and later that the police were choking him.

Eventually DPS officers were able to pry him loose.

Department of Public Safety Captain Damon Cecil said the House’s Sergeant of Arms wanted the man in the mask to leave and asked troopers to remove him.

Cecil said he was yelling different slogans and was warned, but continued to be disruptive.

Cecil also said it’s the Sergeant at Arms who decides who should be removed. The man will be booked into Maricopa County jail on suspicion of resisting arrest and trespassing, Cecil said.

Cecil disagreed with witnesses who said the man wasn’t disruptive.

“If he was peaceful, why wouldn’t he just leave?” Cecil said.

No one was injured in the chaos.