Passersby, journalists detained behind police barricade
By Ryan Sabalow, Rocky Mountain News
Published August 25, 2008 at 9:04 p.m.
Updated August 25, 2008 at 9:04 p.m.
DOWNTOWN -- Passersby and journalists who got caught up in a protest tonight near Civic Center Park were detained a during a scuffle between officers in riot gear and the anarchist group.
Tivnan Webb, 22, of Denver said he and some friends were wandering near the area of 15th Street and Court Place when they got caught up with a rushing group of protesters and were later boxed off by riot police.
Webb spent about an hour behind the police barricade before he was released around 8:15 p.m..
"It was a really uncomfortable experience," he said.
Several photographers and reporters were caught behind the lines early on. Although some were released during the early part of the clash, others were still behind the lines almost an hour after it started.
The large group of riot police and the protesters who surrounded them drew a crowd. Some, like 26-year-old Denver resident Pat Dougherty were there for the free entertainment.
Dougherty said he lived nearby.
"I haven't had this much fun next to my house for a long time," he said.
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August 25, 2008
11:27 p.m.
Suggest removal
acearle writes:
As one of the journalists that was detained, I'm personally planning on contacting the ACLU. There was no order to disperse. Police on one side ordered us to go to the other. When we got there, we were told to get back. Detaining a journalist in this respect is completely unacceptable and I would encourage everyone involved in this inceident to contact the ACLU and/or their own personal attorneys. Even when presented with press credentials, the Denver Police refused to allow reporters and photographers to leave.