2nd Iraq War Veteran Hurt In Occupy Oakland Protest Arrests
OAKLAND (AP) -- A friend of the second Iraq war veteran hospitalized after getting hurt at an Occupy Oakland protest said the man wasn't participating in the demonstration when he was injured and arrested.
Esther Goodstal said her friend and business partner Kayvan Sabeghi was only trying to get home when he was beaten by police.
An Oakland police spokesman didn't immediately return a call seeking comment Saturday.
A Highland Hospital spokesman said the 32-year-old Sabeghi is in fair condition. Goodstal said Sabeghi had to undergo surgery for a lacerated spleen.
She said Sabeghi was walking home in west Oakland sometime late Wednesday or early Thursday when he encountered a line of police at the protest who wouldn't let him through. She said Sabeghi told her he tried to explain his situation and officers began hitting him with batons.
Records show Sabeghi was then booked on suspicion of resisting arrest. He was one of more than 100 people arrested by 3 p.m. Thursday.
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