Ann Arbor Police remove tents from Liberty Plaza

Pedestrians walk past tents set up in Liberty Plaza, which were removed Thursday night.

Melanie Maxwell I AnnArbor.com

Previous coverage:

Who's living in Liberty Plaza? Camper says he's not with Occupy Ann Arbor

City has no plans to evict Occupy Ann Arbor protesters from downtown park

Liberty Plaza no longer has anyone camping in it after the Ann Arbor Police Department removed the remaining tents from the park Thursday night.

Steve Powers, Ann Arbor city administrator, said police decided to remove the tents after their own observation and reports from various sources indicated the Occupy Ann Arbor movement was no longer involved with the remaining camper in the plaza.

"On Feb. 7, Ann Arbor Police made contact with the person occupying the tents and informed him of the need to remove the property," Powers said. "The removal was completed last night at 11 p.m. without incident."

According to Powers, the tents' contents included shoes, clothes, four milk crates, multiple signs, a mattress, several blankets and pillows, a kerosene heater with five gallons of kerosene, 10 garbage bags filled with trash and several cardboard boxes. Over 25 empty propane canisters were also found in the tents.

The property was in city possession but has most likely been disposed of, Powers said.

Powers said the park's standard regulations are in effect, which includes no camping overnight and park usage hours from 6 a.m. to 12 a.m., but he added that the city will continue to be supportive of active protests.

"Ann Arbor certainly has a long history of protest and beliefs," Powers said. "Ann Arbor will continue to be respectful to any public protest or gathering."

The Occupy Ann Arbor Liberty Plaza protest began in October, but its presence dwindled to one man, who confirmed in January he wasn't working with the movement.

Contact reporter Danny Shaw at 734-623-2544 or dannyshaw@annarbor.com.

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