Two Men Arrested After Trying To Block FDOT Crews From Painting Over Street Mural

The individuals sat on a street mural in an effort to prevent its removal, despite repeated warnings from police.

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – Two men were arrested Friday night after they attempted to obstruct a Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) crew from painting over a street mural.

At approximately 8:00 p.m., FDOT crews arrived on 9th Avenue South, just west of 22nd Street South, to begin the process of covering a mural painted on the roadway.

Shortly after, at 8:15 p.m., Andrew Oliver, 45, and Benedict Atherton-Zeman, 59, walked past police officers and sat down in the street on top of the mural.

The men’s actions were an attempt to block the FDOT machinery and prevent the crew from proceeding with their work. Officers on the scene issued repeated warnings for the men to move