Dozens arrested outside Minnesota governor's residence

ST. PAUL, Minn., July 27 (UPI) -- Police arrested close to 70 people protesting the death of Philando Castile outside the Minnesota governor's residence in the last 24 hours.

Protesters were arrested for standing and sitting in the middle of the street and refusing to leave the area after repeated dispersal orders, police said. They were charged with disorderly conduct, public nuisance and unlawful assembly.

"The Saint Paul Police Department remains committed to allowing people to make their voices heard—as long as they do not block streets and sidewalks, jeopardize public safety or damage public and private property," the department said on its Facebook page.

"Our goal is to ensure the safety of everyone in the area," the department said.

Armed officers in riot gear moved in shortly after 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, when protesters refused to move from the front gate of the mansion.

By 11 p.m. that night, the scene had shifted from the residence and more than three dozen police officers faced down the crowd of about 150 protesters. Around 23 people were arrested at 2 a.m. after about 45 were arrested hours earlier.

Protesters have camped in front of the residence for nearly three weeks after Castile was fatally shot by an officer during a traffic stop in the Minnesota town of Falcon Heights. Footage of the incident was posted online by Castile's girlfriend.

"We continue to be committed to allow for peaceful protests, but we have an obligation that people are safe and follow the rules, and when that's no longer the case we need to take action, like we did today," St. Paul Mayor Chris Coleman said at a news conference before the arrests.

Protester Jacob Ladda told the Star Tribune that police were trying to "strip" them of their "well-being." "They're asking us to remove water and food from the space — tents and other things that provide shade," he said. "They're using intimidation tactics rather than legal tactics."