All five people arrested at the Oppenheimer Park tent city have been released from custody and will not faces charges, the Vancouver Police Department announced Friday.
The campers -- three men and two women -- were in contravention of an injunction granted by the B.C. Supreme Court, which allowed the Vancouver Park Board to dismantle the four-month old camp after 10 p.m. Wednesday. Police arrested them late Thursday afternoon and had recommended charges for obstruction and breach of the court order and the peace.
"The goal of police was to safely enforce the B.C. Supreme Court order allowing workers to restore the park, and not criminalize the campers," the VPD said in a release. "In reviewing all of the circumstances, and with the public interest in mind, the Vancouver police has determined not to recommend charges."
City officials, police and park rangers moved in Thursday morning to clear the park of campers, tents and debris.
The VPD said negotiations with campers who refused to leave continued throughout the day with no progress.
Gary Humchitt was one of the campers arrested and told the Courier earlier in the day he wanted "reasonable housing" or he would stay.
Deputy city manager Sadhu Johnston said Wednesday there was enough shelter and housing available for about 50 campers who were in the park Wednesday. It was unclear at press time whether Humchitt and the others found shelter or housing upon their release
Courier photographer Dan Toulgoet was at the park during the arrests and captured several photographs, which can be viewed at the top of this article.
