Tuesday, August 31, 2004

And speaking of punks

FIRE-DRAGON PROTESTER BURNED BY 200G BAIL:
A judge yesterday threw the book at a protester arrested for setting fire to a papier-maché dragon near the Garden during the protest march on Sunday.

Manhattan Criminal Court Judge Patricia Nuñez ordered Yusuke Banno, 21, held in lieu of $200,000 bond or $100,000 cash on charges of inciting a riot, resisting arrest and assaulting Police Officer John Park, 26, whose hand was burned making the arrest, authorities said.

Prosecutors said the officer's hand got lodged inside the dragon and he suffered possible nerve damage.

When the stiff bail was set, protesters in the courtroom began shouting obscenities.
There's a surprise.
Nuñez refused — for now — to arraign three other protesters who had been arrested with Banno and gave their names as John Doe.

"I will not arraign anybody by the name John Doe," Nuñez said. "Send them back downstairs."

He told the John Does: "I'll see you later this week."
Have fun in jail, kiddies.