Two arrested at tree removal protest in Middletown

Valerie Waltz Content Manager

7:16 a.m. EST, November 20, 2012

MIDDLETOWN, DAUPHIN COUNTY

Last week, Middletown Borough officials voted to remove the trees on South Union Street between Emaus and Mill Streets. The vote came about after consultants told borough officials that Linden trees block store fronts and their roots have the potential to damage sidewalks.

"All we're hoping is that we could maybe delay cutting down the trees so that maybe we're allowed to give some of our input," said Sukle.

Chris Courogen, Middletown Borough's Director of Communications, says the Shade Tree Commission meeting was posted on Middletown's website.

"It's removing the trees now so that we could put the right trees in. It's so we can fix the downtown and revitalize the economy of the Borough of Middletown," said Courogen.

Sukle and her brother, David Graybill, was arrested around 4:30 p.m. during the protest. Sukle was charged with disorderly conduct and defiant trespass. Graybill was charged with inciting a riot and failure to disperse.

Both were warned by officers three times to disperse before they were taken into custody.

A YouTube video entitled "Save Our Trees 1" is circulating the internet and captures the protestors arrest.

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Two arrested at tree removal protest in Middletown