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Activist for the Homeless Regan Benson was notified on Monday that she has received a 90-day ban from the Englewood, Colorado, Public library for violating state criminal code § 18-9-111(1)(c) last week when she confronted an Allied Security officer.
Benson filmed herself having an altercation with an Allied Security Guard in the Englewood Public Library, located on the lower floor of the Englewood Civic Center, on Monday March 4, 2024, after the guard told her that she could be excluded from using the bathroom in the library if she did not identify herself.
The security guard had directed her to library staff for clarification and then to his supervisor. Instead of de-escalating, Benson chose to follow the security guard around the building and outside into the parking lot while he was on his break, ignoring the man when he said he was uncomfortable with her doing so.
https://codes.findlaw.com/co/title-18-criminal-code/co-rev-st-sect-18-9-111/
Colorado criminal code § 18-9-111(1)(c) states:
(1) A person commits harassment if, with intent to harass, annoy, or alarm another person, he or she:
(c) Follows a person in or about a public place;
A violation of the criminal code under (1)(c) is classified as a class 1 misdemeanor. A class 1 misdemeanor is punishable of up to 365 days in jail, a fine of $1,000 or both.
According to Benson, a library staff member attempted to serve her with the notice of exclusion as she attempted to enter the Civic Center entrance near the library. The library staff member was accompanied by two police officers who did not arrest Benson at the time or attempt to charge her with a crime.
Benson refused service of the documents and the library staff member put the documents at her feet and left with the police. The YouTuber then went live, accusing the staff member of “littering” and refusing to look at the paper.
She eventually returned to her car, where she called her attorney, who told her to go get the paper as she was properly served. Benson returned to the library entrance, to find the paper gone, and had alerted security that she needed help finding the paper.
Eventually, the library staff member returned along with an Allied Security guard, again placing the documents at Benson’s feet and walking away.
The documents indicated that Benson has been banned from the library for 90 days for the alleged violation of code § 18-9-111(1)(c). The ban is set to begin four days after issuance of the notice (March 15) and she has 4 days to appeal the ban with the City Clerk; the ban will be lifted during the appeal. She is required to have a police escort to conduct any business within the facilities during her ban from the library.
Benson reaction promoted her usual mix of laughter, insults, and rude comments toward city officials, questioned the validity of the order as she has yet to be charged with a crime by police. She wondered aloud if she could legally challenge the ban before it was implemented.
The YouTuber was able to return to the building to use the upstairs bathroom before ending the live stream with a promise that she would return to address the Englewood City Council at their scheduled meeting later in the evening.
This is a developing news story.
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