Protesters removed from Congressman Bentz's Central Point town hall

CENTRAL POINT, Ore. – Several protesters were removed from Congressman Cliff Bentz’s town hall at the Jackson County Expo Tuesday morning.

The group, Rogue Valley Pepper Shakers, says it disrupted the congressman’s town hall because of his support for Israel in its war with Hamas.

It says sheriff’s deputies and Medford police officers “violently detained them, and told them they were causing panic, and were being arrested for disorderly conduct.”

After the group says they were placed in police cars, they were released and told organizers of the town hall did not want to press charges.

The Jackson County Sheriff’s Office responded to the allegations Tuesday afternoon with a statement.

It read, in part “two subjects started yelling, causing alarm and disturbing the public. JCSO deputies detained and removed the disruptive protesters around 10:13 a.m. for disorderly conduct. The event organizer did not want to press charges at the time so the subjects were released. Three subjects were trespassed from the event and left without further incident.”

The sheriff’s office says the investigation is ongoing.