Iraq vet shot by police at occupy Oakland

[RodeoX]

Shame on the Oakland PD. Very poor policing IMO.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/oct/26/scott-olsen-occupy-oakland-review

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[enmaku]

According to the article, he wasn't shot, he was hit in the head with a blunt instrument. He's still in critical condition though and if he dies... Well I'd rather be shot to death than clubbed to death...

My favorite bit of the article was this:

Oakland police confirmed at a press conference that they used tear gas and baton rounds, but said they did not use flash bang grenades.

Which of course immediately follows this:

Video footage posted to YouTube shows Olsen lying motionless in front of a police line after apparently having been hit. A group of up to 10 protesters gather around him, but a police officer can be seen throwing a device close to the group which then explodes with a bright flash and loud bang, scattering the protesters

The video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=OZLyUK0t0vQ

That... That appears to be an Oakland PD officer in full riot gear chucking a flashbang into a crowd... Do they seriously think they can say "we don't use flashbangs" in response to video of an officer chucking one? That's like me saying "I'm on a diet" while my mouth is still full of donuts...

[RodeoX]

Thanks @enmaku  I corrected the title to reflect the article.
Someone posted on twitter that the projectile was one of those bean bags. Not that a post on twitter means anything.  If it was a bean bag gun, it's dangerously irresponsible to shoot for the head.

[enmaku]

There's new video showing what appears to be a tear gas canister hitting him in the head, so maybe he was "shot" after all - they do fire those things from grenade launchers right?

[I.Goldstein]

...would be "looking into" the circumstances surrounding Olsen's injuries. The board will decide whether to launch an official investigation over the next couple of days.

In other words, nothing will likely happen. Authority is hardly ever accountable to itself.

[hilariousandco]

Shame on the Oakland PD. Very poor policing IMO.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/oct/26/scott-olsen-occupy-oakland-review

Why was there any need to use any sort of grenades?

[EvilPanda]

Shame on the Oakland PD. Very poor policing IMO.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/oct/26/scott-olsen-occupy-oakland-review

Why was there any need to use any sort of grenades?

Yeah that is the question. People have the right to protest whenever they want. If they weren't violent police had no right to use force. I heard, unlike in the communist countries, you actually have some rights in the USA, but it appears you can be killed for showing discontent.

[hilariousandco]

Shame on the Oakland PD. Very poor policing IMO.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/oct/26/scott-olsen-occupy-oakland-review

Why was there any need to use any sort of grenades?

Yeah that is the question. People have the right to protest whenever they want. If they weren't violent police had no right to use force. I heard, unlike in the communist countries, you actually have some rights in the USA, but it appears you can be killed for showing discontent.

Yeah, I don't get it. Those type of weapons should be used as a last resort and only if things are turning violent. This just seems like a bunch of dick cops looking for an excuse to start firing shit.