Apr 11 2024 22 mins
Some of today's top stories
- We're learning more this morning about some tense moments at last night's Bakersfield City Council meeting.
A pro-Palestinian protester was arrested... after allegedly making threatening comments to city councilmembers. Riddhi Patel.has been attending City Council meetings to ask that city leaders pass a ceasefire resolution for the Israel-Hamas War.
Soon after those comments... Patel was escorted out of the chambers then arrested by Bakersfield police officers. Other pro-Palestinian protesters later approached 17 News to emphasize Patel does not represent them. Protesters also spoke against the city's recent security improvement measures.
During the meeting... the City Council voted unanimously... 7-0... to pass a policy on security at public city buildings... meetings... and events.
It includes physical security protocols... similar to an airport baggage check and metal detectors.
But many are questioning the timing of the new security.
City Attorney Ginny Gennaro denies the enhancements have to do with the recent protests... but protesters say they're dubious. - Meantime, four protesters arrested during a confrontation with police at last month's Bakersfield City Council meeting have now been criminally charged. You may remember this scene on March 27, when pro-Palestinian protesters clashed with police at the front doors of city hall after being removed from chambers.
It resulted in a broken glass door and an officer injured.
Gabriela Lynn Mota and Lorena Salinas are both charged with felony resisting arrest, and Salinas also faces a felony count of vandalism, court records show.
Lance Mack and Ashley Vega are charged with misdemeanor counts of resisting arrest and remaining at the scene of a riot. - 29 people are under arrest following a series of compliance checks in Ridgecrest. Ridgecrest police say it happened last week when 44 of those searches were conducted.
Items seized included over 7 pounds of methamphetamine, over 2 pounds of suspected cocaine, over 20 grams of suspected Fentanyl, over $70,000 dollars and several meth pipes.
Officers also say 8 guns and over 800 hundred rounds of ammunition were seized from a subject, and one stolen car was recovered.