Unlawful assembly declared, over 50 arrested outside Whipple building after deputy was ‘struck in the head’

A protest outside the Whipple Federal Building in St. Paul was declared an unlawful assembly after a deputy was reportedly struck in the head with ice.

The Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office said its deputies were at the Whipple Building on Saturday to maintain public safety.

The Whipple Building has been a frequent hub for anti-ICE protests since Operation Metro Surge began.

According to the sheriff’s office, while many protestors had remained peaceful, others had thrown objects, damaging property and hurting a deputy.

“While many individuals are peacefully protesting, some agitators have engaged in unlawful behavior, including damaging property and throwing ice chunks,” the sheriff’s office wrote in a public safety update Saturday. “A Deputy was struck in the head, and a squad vehicle windshield was broken.”

Because of these actions, the sheriff’s office said it requested assistance from other agencies, with the Minnesota State Patrol and the Minnesota DNR responding.

The gathering was declared an unlawful assembly, and the protesters were ordered to leave or face arrest.

Minnesota State Patrol, which assisted the Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office, said they arrested 25 people; however, 54 people were arrested in total.

Of the people State Patrol arrested:

• 16 were cited and released for unlawful assembly
• One was cited and released for presence at an unlawful assembly and fleeing on foot
• Seven were booked into Hennepin County Jail for presence at an unlawful assembly and obstructing legal process
• One was booked into Hennepin County Jail for presence at an unlawful assembly, fourth-degree assault and obstructing legal process

State Patrol adds that during the arrests, minimal force was used by troopers. They noted that no one arrested was injured; however, one trooper suffered a minor injury.