Skip to content Skip to footer

WSP Refers Charges on Seven Additional Individuals Who Blocked I-5

February 16, 2024

Olympia, Wash. – The Washington State Patrol (WSP) has referred charges for seven additional individuals (3 Males and 4 Females) who played roles in the protest and purposeful blocking of Interstate 5 in downtown Seattle on the afternoon of January 6, 2024. This brings the total number of individuals with referred charges so far to twelve. The charges vary by individual, but include 2nd Degree Criminal Trespass, Failure to Disperse, Disorderly Conduct, and Obstruction. As with the first set of referred charges announced last week, all have been referred to the King Couty Prosecutor’s Office who will make the final determination on what can be filed based on the evidence.

Incident Recap – On Saturday, January 6, 2024, beginning shortly after 1:00 p.m., all north-bound lanes of I-5 were closed in downtown Seattle for approximately five hours after protestors illegally blocked the safe flow of traffic by the stopping and abandoning of 12 vehicles. In a coordinated effort, a large group of protestors cut through a WSDOT safety fence and began to occupy the freeway road surface. They refused to leave the area and subsequently eight individuals bound themselves together in a manner designed to further delay attempts at safe evacuation. As WSP gathered the equipment and personnel resources necessary to safely and effectively process a large crowd that was using choreographed tactics of delay, a squall of threatening weather dispersed the crowd before any on-site arrests commenced. After the protestors left the freeway, the abandoned vehicles had to be searched, using bomb-sniffing dogs, before being towed away.

WSP has collected additional high resolution footage of the events and included with this press release are photos of additional individuals believed to have played a role in the dangerous freeway takeover in January. Anyone with information on their identities or whereabouts or has additional video or photographs that might assist in the continuing investigation is asked to contact WSP at sistips@wsp.wa.gov or Sergeant Chase Van Cleave at (425) 240-4161.

WSP reiterates that while we fully support and regularly protect the public’s rights to gather and protest, the freeway is not the place to do so. Simply put – it is illegal and extremely dangerous. It cannot and will not be tolerated.

Click here to see images of persons of interest.

###

Release sent by Chris Loftis, Director of Communications

Contact us

Mailing Address
Washington State Patrol
PO Box 42600
Olympia, WA 98504

Physical Address
Washington State Patrol
Helen Sommers Building
106 11th Avenue SW
Olympia, WA 98501

Wsp accessibility

The Washington State Patrol is firmly committed to providing an environment that provides the public fair and equal treatment and equal access to its benefits, programs and services as required by state and federal laws. If you require reasonable accommodation under the American with Disabilities Act, or would like to file a grievance please click on the following link:  WSP Public Accessibility and Grievance Process

Follow us

© 2025 Washington State Patrol.