Update on Arrest in Downtown Redwood City on Friday, September 25, 2020
Person Arrested: Jesilyn Faust, 30 years old (City of residence refused)
On Friday, September 25, 2020 a local political party hosted an event labeled a “community unity celebration” inside Courthouse Square in Redwood City. No City permit is required for free speech activities such as this event. Police Department personnel were in Downtown Redwood City to ensure the safety of everyone present and to allow everyone to express themselves peacefully.
Prior to the event the Redwood City Police Department became aware of a social media post which called upon individuals to “make good trouble” at the rally in Courthouse Square and “Show up in solidarity. Solidarity means attack.” Shortly before the afternoon start time of the event, the Redwood City Police Department received additional advisories from two San Francisco Bay Area law enforcement agencies who independently reported that counter opposition groups were on their way to Redwood City to disrupt the event.
Shortly after these advisories were received police personnel patrolling the Downtown area noticed a group of 6 - 10 individuals moving about the periphery of the event. This group was not participating in the rally and was not protesting the rally. The group moved freely about the area and their movement was not impeded in any way. The group was later joined by a second smaller group that arrived by vehicle and the combined group continued to move about unimpeded.
Shortly before 5:00 pm a white female, later identified as Jesilyn Faust, was observed walking with a backpack in an active lane of traffic approximately one block away from the rally venue. Her presence in the open roadway impacted at least one vehicle driving in the area. Ms. Faust was not carrying a sign or actively engaged in constitutionally protected activity as she approached the venue on foot and was contacted by police personnel for a California Vehicle Code infraction. Faust was momentarily detained at the scene while the nature of the stop was discussed, however she objected to the detention and was uncooperative. She then began to walk away when she was not free to leave and actively resisted the officer’s efforts to physically detain her.
Simultaneously the group of bystanders observed earlier rapidly converged on the struggle and physically encroached upon the officers involved in the arrest. Ms. Faust was detained on the ground and arrested for obstructing, delaying or resisting a peace officer. She was removed from the scene and taken to a nearby police facility as the investigation continued. Immediately following the arrest of Ms. Faust the group of bystanders remained free to move about the area and were not inhibited from participating in the rally or offering a counter protest. A search of the backpack Ms. Faust was carrying led to the discovery of a handheld metal chipping hammer or demolition tool, as well as two cans of spray paint. Based upon the circumstances leading up to and surrounding this law enforcement contact, police personnel believe it was highly likely that the chipping hammer / demolition tool and the spray paint were going to be used to cause property damage and/or possibly harm individuals in the Downtown Redwood City area.
The investigation into this matter continues and any additional updates will be provided at the appropriate time. The Redwood City Police Department wishes to thank staff from our Bay Area Law Enforcement partners for the important assistance they provided with this investigation. Any community members with additional information regarding this event are encouraged to contact Redwood City Police Department Investigations Lieutenant Casey Donovan at (650) 780-7103.
Address/Location
Redwood City Police Department
1301 Maple St
Redwood City, CA 94063
Contact
Emergency: 9-1-1
Non-emergencies: 650-780-7100