Dozens Of OWS Protesters Arrested In Oct. Brooklyn Bridge March Appear In Court

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Dozens of Occupy Wall Street protesters who were arrested at a march on the Brooklyn Bridge appeared in court on Tuesday.

Police arrested more than 700 people for disorderly conduct at the October 1 demonstration.

Investigators say the protesters failed to heed a warning not to leave the pedestrian walkway and began to block traffic on the roadway.           
  
Defense lawyers say many people didn't hear the warnings and police led the group into the road. 

Of the 57 who appeared in court Tuesday, the District Attorney's office says 40 took an adjournment in contemplation of dismissal, or ACD, which will put the cases on track to be dismissed if they stay out of trouble for six months.

Officials say 17 did not ACDs and will be back in court on Jan. 11. Two of the defendants were no-shows and their bench warrants were stayed. 

The court appearances came on the heals of a police raid at Zuccotti Park early Tuesday morning that cleared tents, sleeping bags and tarps from the park.

In a news conference Tuesday morning, Mayor Michael Bloomberg said early 200 protesters were arrested during the raid.

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