5 Occupy LA Protesters Face Charges in Camp Crimes

Los Angeles - Five "Occupy" demonstrators have been charged with crimes, including lewd conduct, battery, and assault with a deadly weapon, the City Attorney Office announced today.

The charges were made public just hours after New York City police started arresting demonstrators, who first started occupying Lower Manhattan streets Sept. 17.

Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa reiterated his position today that the encampment on the City Hall lawn cannot continue indefinitely.

Los Angeles city officials are negotiating with some Occupy L.A. demonstrators to persuade them to move off the lawn surrounding City Hall, where about 500 tents are set up. Police are working on a timeline for breaking up the encampment.

"We are following how other cities across the nation are dealing with the various Occupy protests, recognizing that each city has unique challenges and circumstances. In L.A. we continue an ongoing dialogue with the protesters, including a previously scheduled meeting today between LAPD and the Occupy LA protesters," mayoral spokesman Peter Sanders said.

"We are still closely monitoring the situation for health and public safety issues ... but to date there have been no serious incidents associated with Occupy LA. The County Health Department continues to monitor the encampment and has issued some notices of violation for minor problems in the past week, as well," Sanders added. According to the City Attorney's Office:

Farid Ahntab, 24, was charged with assault with a deadly weapon, resisting arrest and several related charges. Ahntab is accused of brandishing a knife at an officer and trying to set a food vendor on fire. He is set to be arraigned tomorrow.

Robert Holland, Jr., 31, was charged with brandishing a knife at someone and resisting arrest.

Angele Chaidez, 21, was charged with lewd conduct after he was caught allegedly masturbating on the steps of City Hall last week and exposing himself in public.

Zachary Isaac, 21, was charged with battery for allegedly going into someone's tent and punching a woman in the face.

Michael Howard Thomson, 51, was charged with two counts of battery and one count of resisting arrest for trying to grab a 2-year-old from its parent. Thomson is accused of punching a mediator. Police say he fought the officers who arrested him.