Police Chief Jim Chu issued a public warning Tuesday to Occupy Vancouver protesters to leave the grounds of the Vancouver Art Gallery.
The warning came after two Vancouver police officers received human bite wounds and one had his ammunition clip stolen in an incident with protesters Monday night.
"If you wish to avoid arrest and avoid whatever violence will be initiated by those among you, we urge the legitimate protesters to leave now," the chief said at a press conference from the Cambie Street police station.
Chu issued the warning two hours before the B.C. Supreme Court was to hear the city's application for an injunction to remove the tents from the art gallery grounds.
Chu wouldn't speculate on what the injunction, if granted, would trigger the police to do-or when police would take any action.
"I'm not going to put a time amount on it," he said when pressed by reporters.
The injuries to officers occurred when firefighters attempted at 11 p.m. to extinguish a fire in a barrel on the grounds of the Vancouver Art Gallery.
A group from the site formed a human chain around the barrel to prevent firefighters from doing their job, Chu said.
"When they started to push and shove the firefighters, Vancouver police officers moved in to keep the peace," he said. "Our officers received the full wrath of protesters, who punched, kicked and bit them."
When protesters moved onto the grounds at the art gallery Oct. 15, Chu said, there was "open good will" expressed by protesters with police and firefighters.
A spokesman for the inaugural march also agreed if the group was infiltrated by "a violent element and saw black masks," they would sit down as a way to isolate troublemakers, Chu said.
"Our mission all along has been to preserve the safety of the protesters and the public and initially we believed that those involved in Occupy Vancouver wanted the same thing," the chief said. "Unfortunately, it now appears that the good will and those who espoused it are gone. We have seen the make-up of the protesting group change."
Fire Chief John McKearney said firefighters, some of whom were injured, had been at the protest 24 hours a day since it began. Monday's incident forced the fire chief to remove firefighters from the grounds and instead are providing frequent patrols.
A woman died Saturday of a suspected drug overdose on the site and a man was treated earlier for a drug overdose. McKearney estimated the number of people sleeping at the site overnight as 15 to 20.
mhowell@vancourier.com
Twitter: @Howellings
