Eugene police announced Thursday that they arrested Christopher Henry Bennett, 37, on Wednesday night outside the Eugene Federal Building. According to police, Bennett blocked traffic on Pearl Street and 6th Avenue, disregarded officer orders to clear the roadway and allegedly struck a passing LTD bus with a bullhorn before being taken into custody.

He was arrested on suspicion of resisting arrest, interfering with public transportation and second-degree disorderly conduct. The resisting arrest charge was later dismissed, according to court records.

Bennett was arraigned Thursday and retained a public defender, according to court records. Jail records show he remains in custody at the Lane County Jail.

The original truck carrying fence gates has now been unloaded and the left the scene. Workers continue to work along the west side and southwest corner of the building on Pearl Street and 7th Avenue. Construction is scheduled to continue into the night.

Fence construction began around 7:30 p.m. on Pearl Street on the west side of the Eugene Federal Building.

The Eugene Police Department and Springfield Police Department arrived at approximately 7 p.m. to establish a perimeter for construction crews to enter. EPD ordered protesters to stay out of roadways and move to adjacent sidewalks to avoid arrest.

Dozens of construction workers have closed half of Pearl Street to unload a truck carrying metal fence barriers. They have begun assembling the fence along the western edge of the building. EPD officers on the scene told The Daily Emerald that construction will last throughout the night.

Around 25 protesters stand in front of the construction workers, chanting profanities while Department of Homeland Security and EPD officers keep them off federal property.

Eugene police are warning protestors that they are at risk of arrest for allegedly blocking traffic.

“This is EPD you are blocking vehicular traffic and will be arrested if you do not move,” the announcement read in part.

Two lanes are open on Pearl Street amid the construction.

After briefly leaving, the truck with construction materials reappeared on Pearl Street as plans to build the fence progressed. Most traffic on 7th Avenue and Oak Street is restricted while numerous Eugene police officers stand by with batons along Pearl Street.

In the courtyard of the federal building, around 10 Department of Homeland Security agents remain, holding protesters on the sidewalk and off federal property.

A construction worker told The Daily Emerald they would be working from 6 p.m. Wednesday to 6 a.m. Thursday to install the fence around the federal building.

Shortly after 6:15 p.m., a large trailer parked on Pearl Street with supplies for the fence.

Around 30 protesters still stand on the corner of Pearl Street and 7th Avenue as landscapers finish work alongside the west side of the federal building.

A DHS agent told protestors that the sidewalk would be “briefly inaccessible” this evening.

Approximately 40 protestors have gathered on the sidewalk on 7th Avenue, outside of the Eugene Federal Building, to protest the construction of a fence perimeter around the federal property.

The City of Eugene announced today the approval of a Right-of-Way Use permit which allowed the federal government to temporarily use public streets and sidewalks for construction-related activity. The U.S. General Services Administration previously notified the city of its intention to build temporary security fencing around the federal building — because it is federal property, it is exempt from state and local regulations.

The sidewalk along Pearl Street has been closed for construction. Approximately seven Department of Homeland Security Police officers stand on the plaza of the building, ordering protestors to remain on the sidewalk.

Editor’s note: This story has been corrected to reflect that the City of Eugene permitted a Right-of-Way Use permit to close parts of 7th Avenue and Pearl Street for construction-related activity, not the fence itself.