Rocky video shows officer shoving protester to ground
By Paul A. Anthony and Daniel J. Chacon, Rocky Mountain News
Published August 27, 2008 at 12:05 a.m.
Please download the latest version of Adobe Flash Player, or enable JavaScript for your browser to view the video player.
Photo by George Kochaniec Jr. / The Rocky Video
A video shows an officer knocking CodePink protester Alicia Forrest to the ground with a baton Tuesday morning at Civic Center. The woman was later arrested along with two other protesters.
A police officer was videotaped Tuesday shoving a CodePink protester hard to the ground without any apparent sign of provocation.
Footage of the incident prompted the city's independent monitor to call for a review and the police department's Internal Affairs Bureau to request a copy of the tape.
Police arrested Alicia Forrest, 24, a Los Angeles resident whom CodePink representatives identified as the woman involved in the altercation, shortly afterward as she was addressing reporters just outside Civic Center.
The arrest - in which Forrest was grabbed and hauled away from reporters - also was caught on camera, and CodePink legal liaison Sally Newman said Forrest was doing "nothing violent at all" to incur either the shove or the arrest.
"Horror, shock and total support of Alicia," said CodePink spokeswoman Jean Stevens, describing the reaction when she and other members of the antiwar group viewed the video for the first time. "We wish we could help. We wish we could be with her."
The video shows an officer quickly shoving Forrest with the length of his baton, forcing her to the ground, where she lands with a scream and a loud smack.
City investigating
It's unclear whether the officer is a Denver officer. The city enlisted the help of 1,500 police officers from other jurisdictions for the Democratic National Convention.
Sue Cobb, a spokeswoman for Mayor John Hickenlooper, said the city's Internal Affairs Bureau and the independent monitor are both looking into the incident.
"We take allegations of excessive force very seriously and will investigate fully," she said in a statement. "As soon as we know the facts, we'll provide more information."
Lt. Ron Saunier, a Denver police spokesman, said the 30-second clip was "kind of jumpy" on his computer and that it doesn't provide enough context.
"Just shown in that context, you don't get what the whole dynamics or the full situation is," he said.
Denver police Cmdr. John Burbach, head of internal affairs, requested a copy of the video, which was shot by Rocky Mountain News videographer George Kochaniec Jr.
"We'd like to have our own copy," Burbach said, declining to discuss the incident itself. "I don't know if there's anything that's before or after, that sort of thing."
Such a request is serious and requires a judicial order, said Rocky Editor and Publisher John Temple.
Warrants review
Independent Monitor Richard Rosenthal, who looked at the video online at the request of the Rocky, said the incident warrants additional review.
"Obviously, looking at that, I'd want to look at the use-of-force report," he said. "I'd want the department to look and evaluate."
Rosenthal declined to share his thoughts on the officer's actions.
"I can't do that," he said. "My job is to maintain objectivity until the completion of an investigation. What I can say is I think that that warrants additional review. . . . But I have to maintain objectivity on anything because you can't rush to judgment."
CodePink: Women for Peace is a Los Angeles-based group that began as a way of protesting the war in Iraq. It advocates nonviolence in its protests, Newman said, and had had a cordial relationship with Denver police until Tuesday's scuffle.
"It's really frustrating that we have this incident of violence now," she said.
Newman said Forrest was shoved after she and others asked police for more information about the arrest of another protester outside Civic Center.
Saunier said he recommends that Forrest contact the Internal Affairs Bureau or independent monitor if she feels that the officer used unnecessary force.
During the DNC, he said, officers have had many interactions with protesters and, overall, police have reacted professionally.
"There's been hundreds of contacts with officers that have gone very well," he said. "We may have an isolated instance here and there and the department is committed to fully looking into those instances, and if it's deemed inappropriate, we'll take the appropriate actions."
Featured
-
DNC in Denver
Complete coverage of the 2008 Democratic National Convention.
-
The Crevasse
A five-part series that examines one tragic day on Mount Rainier.
-
Deadly denial
Sick nuclear workers applied for government compensation but most haven't seen a dime.
-
Final Salute
The Rocky followed Maj. Steve Beck as he took on the most difficult duty of his career.
-
'Colorado's burning'
Coverage of the state's worst wildfires.
-
Columbine shootings
Coverage of the April 20, 1999, shootings at Littleton's Columbine High School.
-
The Crossing
Colorado's deadliest traffic accident killed 20 children on Dec. 14, 1961.
-
Osveli's journey
Osveli Sales left Guatemala for a better life. Two months later, he came home in a box.
-
Wake for an Indian warrior
Oglala Sioux bestow a tribute to the first tribal fatality in Iraq.
August 27, 2008
8:15 a.m.
Suggest removal
Mayor_Quimby writes:
LOL.
August 27, 2008
1:01 p.m.
Suggest removal
aclucolorado writes:
The ACLU of Colorado is working alongside the People's Law Project to investigate these egregious displays of police brutality, as well as mass arrests and detainment conditions.
If your have been wrongfully arrested or have been a victim of police brutality please contact the ACLU of Colorado by visiting our website:
http://www.aclu-co.org/dnc/dnc.htm
August 27, 2008
1:34 p.m.
Suggest removal
mokey writes:
What I see in context is the police yelling very clearly, very loudly to move away from the vehicle.
While I cannot see the moment preceding the shove, you can hear the woman who was shoved say provocationally "why don't you try that again..." or words to that effect.
You just get the sense in other photos that the protesters are desperately trying to provoke actions by the police.
The police ought to be commended for keeping their cool despite these provocational actions.
August 27, 2008
1:50 p.m.
Suggest removal
mokey writes:
But just to show balance, there ARE a lot of people who join law enforcement because they are on a power trip. I would bet a remarkable number of cops who were "assigned" (read: volunteered) -- Denver cops and outside agencies -- are probably the kind that chomp at the bit to get in on "the action" (read: an opportunity to work up some kind of pent up frustrations).
Therefore, you have a somewhat bad mix and the cops won't question whether a line has been crossed. They are probably trained to not give much lenience on the crowd control boundaries as the protestors are sure testing them at every turn.
August 27, 2008
2:04 p.m.
Suggest removal
BroncoRick69 writes:
I totally agree with the power trip theory Mokey. They love the action, and they love to be able to control people. All pigs are like that. I guarantee you half of the DPD has been involved in some kind of domestic violence incident.
August 27, 2008
3:09 p.m.
Suggest removal
mytwosense writes:
MarineGrunt writes: "She was a pinko commie.. why not throw her to the ground!"
Wow. Any other representatives of America's Armed Services share MarineGrunt's sentiments?
August 27, 2008
3:16 p.m.
Suggest removal
cdmdenver writes:
Lt. Ron Saunier, a Denver police spokesman, said the 30-second clip was "kind of jumpy" on his computer and that it doesn't provide enough context.
Maybe Lt. Ron could ask the Plaintiffs lawyer for a good evaluation copy of the video when they go to court (discovery)!
What a lame as* excuse!
August 27, 2008
3:24 p.m.
Suggest removal
777J writes:
Wow, if that's not assault, what is? That cop needs to be arrested, he is a black eye to the entire city of Denver. It's these type of guys that give cops a bad reputation AND CAUSE RIOTS. JACK@3%!
August 27, 2008
3:29 p.m.
Suggest removal
Not24601 writes:
Police have one of the highest rates of domestic abuse of any occupation. This is what happens when you hand out badges and guns to whoever wants them most.
I hope the anarchists run circles around them and put an end to this 100 million dollar dog and pony show. We can take back our neighborhoods, our lives and our country.
August 27, 2008
3:44 p.m.
Suggest removal
mytwosense writes:
If the RMN actually cared about this country, they'd keep this story on the front page.
Check out the youtube picture, which plays a lot better: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KfISlq...
I'm not saying it's right to mouth off to a cop, but it damn sure is wrong for getting brutally thrown to the ground if you do. This scumbag better have his badge taken away for good. And then someone should do a home visit to make sure he doesn't beat his wife and kids!
August 27, 2008
3:48 p.m.
Suggest removal
CapnPoon writes:
Surprise me, suddenly "It's unclear whether the officer is a Denver officer." It's clear in the picture he's a Denver officer, check the badge. Probably didn't get to abuse his wife and kids and f*%k his mistress this week. Too bad for anybody stupid enough to be in downtown Cowtown this week.
Hit the Denver cops where it hurts: hijack all their HGH and steroid shipments.
August 27, 2008
6:01 p.m.
Suggest removal
h8r writes:
Hopefully that cop never gets to deal with the public again. I bet that guy practiced his riot moves over and over and over, and was more than a little disappointed that very few protesters showed up to get beaten. That was his only chance to beat someone up, and when he saw the opportunity, he took it.
What a great city, Denver is, but I don't recall any "come to colorado" ads that promised the beating of women. What could the Denver police do, by the way, that would cause the mass of Coloradans to say enough?
Break into your house and murder you in your bed? (done)
Shoot your mentally retarded child? (done)
Beat your daughter? (done)
It's too bad the Recreate 68/anarchist groups weren't around for this-they pledged to "protect the community," and it would have been interesting to see what happens when someone says "Hey, you can't beat our women!" to a cop.