PGHIMC - Pittsburgh Independent Media Center

Bush arrests- what the police say
by hfghfg Wednesday, Apr. 21, 2004 at 11:26 AM

Information about the Bush arrests. What the police say.

A lot has been asked about what exactly the police did and why in response to what exactly the protestes did and why.

According to the police arrest statements:
On April 19th several people left the main group of protesters at 10th and Penn Ave. and walked down the 900 block of Penn Avenue. One of the males ran into the street and was obstructing traffic and causing a disturbance. When this man was arrested several other people linked their arms together and barricaded the sidewalk in front of 955 Penn Ave. They were yelling and causing a disturbance, and refusing to allow pedestrians to pass. They were arrested after ignoring several warnings to disperse.

The officers who gave this "evidence" supposedly based on personal observations were Sgt. William Bair, Officer Jason Lando, Officer Ron Hough, and Officer James Levier. [I believe Officer Hough was the mean man on the Motorcycle.]

Video evidence that exists, and other eyewitnsess confirm the following about the actual situation regarding the arrests. The group of 9 or so people who went down Penn Avenue were attempting to walk back to the main group of protesters at 10th and Penn. 2 of them were far in front of the main group when they encountered 2 officers coming towards the group. The police said nothing as the 2 protesters attempted to walk around the officers now blocking the sidewalk. When they tried to walk around them on the sidewalk they were both attacked and arrested. There was no order to disperse, there was no statements from the police that they were being arrested, there was no linking of arms, and no blocking of pedestrian traffic. After these arrests many people had gathered around to bear witness to, and protest, the violent turn of events. The police began attacking those in the crowd with batons and threatening violence against people.

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