Police Again Don Riot Gear In Downtown Denver, 20 Arrested
DENVER (CBS4) - About 20 people have been arrested in downtown Denver after police scuffled with Occupy Denver protesters on Saturday afternoon and evening.
About 2,000 protesters marched through downtown Saturday morning. It was the fourth consecutive week the protesters gathered. Witnesses said around 3:30 p.m. officers in riot gear lined up in front of the state Capitol. Some protestors then approached the Capitol steps and officers started to move them off.
Most of the protesters proceeded to move to Civic Center Park.
Denver police spokesman Matt Murray said officers fired pepper spray balls at a man in a tree.
Murray said that one of their officers was knocked off his motorcycle and the motorcycle tipped over. A Colorado State Patrol squad car had been tagged with graffiti. CBS4's Jennifer Brice said she saw a "99%" spray-painted on the car. Murray said some officers were also kicked by protesters.
Witnesses also reported two men attempting to take batons from officers and throwing rocks.
Some of the protesters received medical treatment, but nobody was hospitalized, according to Murray.
The Associated Press reported Rep. Ed Perlmutter visited the protest and tried to calm the crowd down.
Things began to calm down and some officers were released from the scene around 7:15 p.m.
PHOTO GALLERY: Occupy Denver
