[ladyjane]

rompting the arrest of 177 people, many of them presumably innocent,

Weren't they all presumed innocent until found guilty in a court of law?

[Cboldt]

I think the contention is slightly different from "presumed innocent until found guilty." The contention is rather that many were arrested and subject to the criminal prosecution apparatus, but the DA didn't have probable cause to arrest them.

Nobody has been charged yet. They stand accused, most incarcerated for about a month, most currently subject to bail conditions and out whatever it cost in out of pocket plus incidental losses (like lost job), and most will not be charged.

The presumption of innocence that attaches to trial proceedings isn't any help at all, doesn't even come into play until a person is indicted or otherwise charged with committing a crime.