Seattle Police pepper spraying of child was 'lawful': report - New York Daily News
Category: News & Politics
Via: jbb • 4 years ago • 7 commentsBy: Nancy Dillon (nydailynews. com)
By Nancy DillonNew York Daily News| Sep 18, 2020 at 3:13 PM
A high-profile incident in which a Seattle Police officer doused a 7-year-old boy with pepper spray at a Black Lives Matter protest was "lawful and proper," the results of a police probe released Friday said.
A compilation video showing the May 30 protest scene and a medic pouring milk over the crying child's face was released by the Seattle Police Department's Office of Police Accountability as the civilian-run group braced for backlash.
"OPA understands that this decision will be unpalatable to some and perhaps to many. This is understandable. In some respects, it is unpalatable to OPA," the report said.
According to the report, the officer "directed" the pepper spray at a woman who "grabbed onto" an officer's baton and yelled, "Don't push me, you move back," as police tried to move a line of protesters standing in Westlake Plaza.
The noxious spray also "inadvertently" hit the child standing behind her, the report said.
Video of the injured boy that was posted on social media led to 13,000 complaints and a decision by the Seattle City Council to pass Ordinance 126102, which creates a legal cause of action for individuals "affected" by pepper spray during a demonstration.
The Office of Police Accountability said that the new ordinance is expected to "deter similar incidents from occurring in the future and, at the very least, will provide a legal and monetary remedy."
"This is one of the hardest cases that I, as the OPA Director, have had to consider during my nearly three years in office," OPA Director Andrew Myerberg wrote in the report. "Certainly, there has never been a case that received as many complaints."
Another caught-on-video incident involving an officer placing his knee on a man's neck during a May 30 protest arrest was determined to be in violation of the department's use-of-force policies, the OPA said.
The officer was cited for unprofessional conduct.
Both incidents happened just days after George Floyd, an unarmed Black man, died in a police homicide that touched off demonstrations around the country.
Former Minneapolis Police Officer Derek Chauvin knelt on Floyd's neck for nearly eight minutes as Floyd begged for air, saying "I can't breathe" and calling out for his dead mother.
Good Grief!
I agree. What kind of idiot brings a child to a protest that has a good chance of getting violent.
According to the report, the officer "directed" the pepper spray at a woman who "grabbed onto" an officer's baton and yelled, "Don't push me, you move back," as police tried to move a line of protesters standing in Westlake Plaza.
The noxious spray also "inadvertently" hit the child standing behind her, the report said
Another bunch of Biden supporter idiots with no parenting skills.
I may be wrong but judging by the title, and other things, i’m sure this was put up to make police look bad. In reality it makes the parent(s) look bad. And like you pointed out all one has to do is read a bit to find out it was an accident.
good grief is right... bringing a child to a riot is kind of stupid
I knew we would eventually agree on something
I feel sorry for that kid... his parents are irresponsible.
they should have CPS look into that child's so called "guardians"
Why would you stand on the line like that, in a confrontation with police, with your 7 year-old? They're lucky that getting hit with pepper spray was all that happened. I can't imagine putting my kids at risk like that. That is just insane parenting.