80 Out-of-County Protesters Arrested Following Trespass of Petaluma Duck Farm

On June 3, 2019 at approximately 10 am, Sonoma County Sheriff’s Department deputies, assisted by officers from Santa Rosa Police Department, Petaluma Police Department, and California Highway Patrol, responded to the Reichardt Duck Farm at the 3700 block of Middle Two Rock Road after receiving a report of animal rights protestors staging a demonstration at that address. Upon arrival law enforcement discovered approximately two to three hundred protestors affiliated with the group Direct Action Everywhere (DXE) that had been bussed to the farm earlier that morning. DXE is the same group responsible for organized protests in May and September of 2018 that resulted in a total of approximately 100 arrests. There were reports that during the Monday morning demonstration some DXE members unlawfully entered the business to remove birds while others chained themselves to the facility with metal chains, padlocks, and bike locks.

Deputies eventually arrested 80 individuals for a variety of criminal offenses. Five protesters were released with a citation to appear in court because they had attached bike locks around their necks complicating the booking process. Of the remaining 75 protestors one was a minor and was taken to juvenile hall. The remaining 74 were taken to the Sonoma County Jail where they were booked into custody. Of those booked into custody, many were given the option to be released with citations to appear at a future court date. However, many refused to sign the citations and were therefore detained pending a determination of the filing of formal charges.

Booking records showed that multiple protestors were residents of Berkeley, CA. However, other protestors came from as far away as Rhode Island, Missouri, and Tennessee. At the time of booking none of the protestors listed an address within Sonoma County.

The investigation is currently ongoing, and law enforcement reports are being completed. Therefore, at today’s court appearance at 1:30 p.m. in Department 9 of the Sonoma County Superior Court, the Sonoma County District Attorney’s Office will request additional time to make decisions on what, if any, criminal charges will be filed against each of the 80 individuals arrested. Anyone with information is encouraged to contact the Sonoma County Sheriff’s Department at (707) 565-3941.