ANCHORAGE, Alaska — A man who camped outside City Hall to protest Anchorage’s policy of removing homeless people from illegal campsites was arrested for being out of compliance with the state sex offender registry, police said.
John Martin III was arrested Wednesday and later released, KTUU-TV reported Thursday.
Martin is protesting the city’s new policy of taking possessions of the homeless when clearing out homeless camps tucked away in parks and green spaces. He is a Level One sex offender convicted in 2005 for sexual abuse of a minor, police said. He is listed as homeless on the registry.
Martin has been protesting near City Hall for more than a month and was back at his usual spot Wednesday night across from City Hall.
He was upset that the city takes the possessions of homeless people when it removes illegal campsites.
“Winter comes quick here in Alaska and people need their gear to survive,” Martin said.
Under the policy, the city is required to hold belongings seized in raids for a period of time to allow campers the opportunity to retrieve their things. If they don’t, the items are thrown out.
Mayor Dan Sullivan was fed up with Martin camping outside City Hall and wants a law that will prohibit people from sitting or lying down on city sidewalks. The proposed ordinance goes before the Anchorage Assembly on Tuesday. It will be addressed by Assembly members at work sessions this week.
“If he can pass a law that quick, then let’s do something for the homeless,” Martin said. “Let’s come up with someplace where people can pitch their tents. If we can act that fast let’s do something before winter comes.”
Anchorage Assembly Member Paul Honeman said the law sounds like it was specifically targeted at Martin.
He said other laws already on the books should cover blocking the sidewalk, and the new law is most likely unnecessary.
Sullivan said he had not talked to Martin and had no plans to.
“I really try to limit my discussions with first-degree sex offenders,” the mayor said. “I really don’t know what the discussion would be … I just don’t look at him as a sympathetic character. I think he’s probably a dangerous character.”
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
