DANE COUNTY, WI - Hundreds of animal rights activists were met with less lethal force by Dane County deputies earlier in April, including the use of pepper spray and rubberized munitions, during what was advertised as a protest against a beagle research facility that reportedly turned into an attempted breach, according to law enforcement.
On April 18, what was reportedly disguised as a peaceful protest against Ridglan Farms, a beagle breeding and research facility, devolved into a scene of hundreds of activists who allegedly attempted to force their way into the facility using burglary tools.
Authorities say the incident began shortly before 9:00 a.m., when activists who converged upon the facility located in Blue Mounds were met with Dane County deputies. Apparently, the demonstration garnered significant publicity before the incident via conservative commentator Tomi Lahren’s program “Tomi Lahren is Fearless,” as the protest organizer, Wayne Hsiung, appeared on the program to advertise the activist effort.
Awaiting deputies took Hsiung into custody within minutes of his arrival at the facility on suspicion of conspiracy to commit burglary, as law enforcement apparently took the comments Hsiung made on Lahren’s program to heart. While appearing on Lahren’s program, Hsiung said to the host during the interview, “This is a peaceful compassion movement, but we've decided if the government is not going to protect the dogs, we will.”
During the incident, Dane County deputies used tear gas, pepper balls, and rubberized less lethal munitions in an effort to maintain order and gain control of the immense crowd, per a press release from the sheriff’s office.
Within the issued press release was a statement from Sheriff Kalvin Barrett, who noted that “It was clear from the beginning that this was not going to be a peaceful protest,” and justified the force used by deputies during the incident.
“The DCSO response to the active break-in attempts by hundreds of protesters was appropriate and proportionate to the behaviors observed. With the assistance of our partner agencies, we were able to maintain order without anyone being seriously injured. We care about the welfare of all animals in our Dane County community. Resorting to crime, chaos, and violence is not the solution,” the statement from Sheriff Barrett concluded.
Aside from Hsiung, authorities confirmed additional arrests were made during the incident, including a suspect accused of recklessly driving a vehicle through the facility grounds, though the exact number of arrestees has yet to be made public by officials.
On April 18, what was reportedly disguised as a peaceful protest against Ridglan Farms, a beagle breeding and research facility, devolved into a scene of hundreds of activists who allegedly attempted to force their way into the facility using burglary tools.
Authorities say the incident began shortly before 9:00 a.m., when activists who converged upon the facility located in Blue Mounds were met with Dane County deputies. Apparently, the demonstration garnered significant publicity before the incident via conservative commentator Tomi Lahren’s program “Tomi Lahren is Fearless,” as the protest organizer, Wayne Hsiung, appeared on the program to advertise the activist effort.
Awaiting deputies took Hsiung into custody within minutes of his arrival at the facility on suspicion of conspiracy to commit burglary, as law enforcement apparently took the comments Hsiung made on Lahren’s program to heart. While appearing on Lahren’s program, Hsiung said to the host during the interview, “This is a peaceful compassion movement, but we've decided if the government is not going to protect the dogs, we will.”
During the incident, Dane County deputies used tear gas, pepper balls, and rubberized less lethal munitions in an effort to maintain order and gain control of the immense crowd, per a press release from the sheriff’s office.
Within the issued press release was a statement from Sheriff Kalvin Barrett, who noted that “It was clear from the beginning that this was not going to be a peaceful protest,” and justified the force used by deputies during the incident.
“The DCSO response to the active break-in attempts by hundreds of protesters was appropriate and proportionate to the behaviors observed. With the assistance of our partner agencies, we were able to maintain order without anyone being seriously injured. We care about the welfare of all animals in our Dane County community. Resorting to crime, chaos, and violence is not the solution,” the statement from Sheriff Barrett concluded.
Aside from Hsiung, authorities confirmed additional arrests were made during the incident, including a suspect accused of recklessly driving a vehicle through the facility grounds, though the exact number of arrestees has yet to be made public by officials.
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