Update to this story. On the other hand, Occupiers did use excessive force against the horse and the cops. Where’s that suit?
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — A seven-person jury has found the city of Portland and two of its police officers not liable for an Occupy Portland protester’s injuries.
The Oregon jury took four hours to return a verdict saying that the officers did not use excessive force when one of them struck protester Liz Nichols in the throat with a baton and the other one sprayed her open mouth with pepper spray.
The officers’ defense team said in closing arguments that the police were doing their job in a difficult situation during the November 2011 protests.
Despite the loss, Nichols’ attorneys say they’re happy that the issue has been aired publicly and that attention has been trained on the police reaction to demonstrations.
“We’re disappointed with the result,” said Ben Haile, one of Nichols’ attorneys. “We think this goes to show that a lot more work needs to be done to make sure people are safe when they come downtown to protest.
HT: Wounded Dove