Participants in homeless vigil rousted by police

Heather Rawlyk

Thursday, Nov. 20, 2003 | 11:04 a.m.

Day two of a what is aimed to be a weeklong vigil for the homeless started off shaky, as Metro Police officers rousted the homeless from their original location and handed out warnings to participants.

The vigil began as planned Tuesday evening, spearheaded by David Buer, a Franciscan brother who launched a weeklong hunger strike, that he calls a "spiritual fast."

Earlier that evening, Buer spoke at the Clark County Commission meeting, appealing to the body to help offset a shortage of about 200 emergency shelter beds compared with last year's winter months.

Afterward, Buer set up camp with several homeless men and women on Wilson Street between D and F streets downtown to call attention to the issue.

But according to Buer and homeless participants, Metro Police officers arrived at 8:15 a.m. Wednesday in full force to roust the homeless.

Buer said there were at least four police cars and eight officers on the scene.

"There were a large amount of officers and a large amount of force. I counted at least eight officers," Buer said. "We tried to negotiate to at least leave the tent up, but they said NO."

Metro officers on the scene stated the roust was due to a matter of trespassing, Buer said.

"They said we were trespassing on private property," he said. "There was a flurry of activity, we had to take the tent down. They had one woman in handcuffs."

A homeless woman who referred to herself as Cyri, said Metro had told her there had been a complaint. She did not know who had called the police however.

"We were just about to get up and leave anyway," Cyri said. "Then they just came in very forcefully."

Cyri said she was among four other homeless participants who went through the same ordeal.

"There were five of us, and two of them went to jail I think," she said.

Douglas K. Kliem, another participant, said he thought Metro was targeting the vigil.

"They didn't bother the people that were at the other end of the street camped out," Kliem said. "We were just sleeping and the police were thrown at us."

Sgt. Eric Fricker, Metro's homeless liaison, said he did not know who was sent to clear out the homeless.

"I was phoned this morning by David and I was surprised," Fricker said. "I don't know who cleared them out. Eight officers is a lot to put on something like that."

The only reason the homeless would be rousted was if they were trespassing or breaking the law, he said.

Fricker said he fully supports Buer and his vigil for the homeless.

Other than Wednesday morning's roust, Buer said he is pleased with how the vigil is going.

"The vigil got off to a good start last night," he said. "We had about a dozen supporters and some homeless friends join us in a circle for prayer to begin the vigil."

Several groups came in the night to offer some food like spaghetti and coffee, Buer said.

Buer said the rousting allowed him to see what the homeless experience day-to-day.

"Our vigil got caught in a mini-sweep," he said. "It is sad, but enlightening to see what the homeless endure on a regular basis."

On Wednesday Buer moved the vigil to City Hall Plaza and intended to keep it there until they are moved.

By early evening Wednesday a small section of City Hall Plaza was stacked with blankets, sleeping bags and backpacks.

Buer stood with a sign that said "More homeless, Less Shelter, Doesn't make sense!" in red, blue and green marker. Cyri and Kliem stood by his side.

"We are down here right now," Buer said. "And we will be here all night. We're just taking it day by day."

Sun reporter

Timothy Pratt contributed to this story.

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