(Tn Gov) Haslam Seeks to Drop Occupy Nashville Charges

[Ghost in the Machine]

"Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam's office said Thursday the Republican will ask prosecutors to drop charges against dozens of Occupy Nashville protesters arrested last month for trespassing.

Haslam spokesman David Smith said that the decision to dismiss the charges against 55 protesters was made in light of a federal judge's ruling that the state couldn't enforce the new curfew on the grounds around the state Capitol.

"We will proceed under the assumption that the temporary restraining order will be extended in one form or another," Smith said in an email. "As the order provides, the state is not constrained in the interim from enforcing existing laws designed to preserve public safety and health."

State troopers used the curfew to arrest protesters the nights of Oct. 28 and Oct. 29. Both times a Nashville magistrate refused to jail the protesters, saying the state didn't have probable cause to arrest them. They were released with citations."

http://www.newschannel9.com/news/state-1006432-protesters-nashville.html