4 arrested after disruption during Arizona Senate news conference
by Mary K. Reinhart and Ginger Rough - Feb. 22, 2011 05:44 PM
The Arizona Republic
Capitol police on Tuesday arrested four people, including a juvenile, on suspicion of disorderly conduct after they disrupted a news conference in a Senate hearing room.
They were cited and released, said Alan Ecker, a spokesman for the state Department of Administration, which oversees the police agency.
The outburst occurred at about 1:30 p.m. while Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, D-Phoenix, was touting a bill that toughens penalties for property owners or renters whose homes are used as drop houses.
Arrested were Alma Lorena Sotelo, 38; Genaro Alcantara; Carlos Galindo, 51; and a 17-year-old girl. The Republic typically withholds the names of juveniles who are arrested. Galindo is a local radio show host and Latino activist.
"I still don't understand it," Sinema said. "They just started screaming. And once they did that, I just stopped talking."
Sinema said she told a legislative aide to get help. The police arrived soon after and arrested the demonstrators.
"There's nothing controversial about this bill," she said. "It's designed to protect victims from human trafficking."
It's the third year that Sinema has introduced the bill, which allows drop-house owners to be prosecuted under forgery laws and subject to a Class 3 felony. Senate Bill 1225 also would apply to someone who rents a home with the intent to use it as a drop house.
The Senate approved the measure on a 26-3 vote Tuesday. It now heads to the House.
