Occupy L.A.: Police use cherry picker to pluck protesters from trees

As the raid on the Occupy L.A. encampment wound down about 2:30 a.m. Wednesday, police brought in a cherry picker -- called a "bat cat" -- to pull some of the few remaining protesters out of the trees at the park around Los Angeles City Hall.

One man was taken by police screaming; two others surrendered peacefully. At least one other protester remained in a tree near the water fountain on the south lawn.

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Overall, police arrested dozens of protesters in the early-morning action. By 2:45 a.m., only a few dozen demonstrators remained and much of the campsite was in shambles.

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-- Kate Linthicum and Andrew Blankstein at L.A. City Hall

Photo: LAPD officers rush down Spring Street as they surround Occupy L.A. protesters at City Hall. Credit: Los Angeles Times