Protesters, marching against the failed indictments in the cases of Michael Brown and Eric Garner, in Oakland, CA were surprised Wednesday night by a supposed undercover officer in their midst. According to witnesses on the scene, the individual pictured was trying to escalate the situation, banging on windows and shouting at the crowd.
As the protesters, numbering between 100-200 by various accounts, left the University of California Berkley campus, the crowd could be heard yelling, “Hey, they’re undercover, they’re cops!”
KTVU News summarized the events leading to the officer pointing a gun at the crowd thus:
One Berkeley resident, Dylan, who declined to give his last name, said he pulled off the officer’s bandana.
The two CHP officers started to walk away, but the protesters persisted, screaming at the two undercover cops. One of the officers pushed a protester aside. The man responded by pushing back and then the officer tackled him to the ground, handcuffing him.
The crowd, incensed, began to gather around them. The second officer pulled out his gun and pointed it at the crowd. More officers quickly arrived and dispersed the crowd.
The officer was originally suspected to be a member of the Oakland Police Department but those suspicions were disavowed on twitter by Oakland Lt. Chris Bolton.
The #OaklandProtest pictured man isn’t an OPD officer & not an OPD arrest. OPD 1st responded to scene on report from other agency. 1/1
— Lt. Chris Bolton (@OPDChris) December 11, 2014
2/2 That outside agency has been notified to provide details and address concerns re #OaklandProtest concerns.
— Lt. Chris Bolton (@OPDChris) December 11, 2014
It was later confirmed in a press conference that the officer and his accomplice are members of the California Highway Patrol and any information will come from that agency.
