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Passersby, journalists detained behind police barricade

by politisite | August 25, 2008 at 07:25 pm

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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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politisite

at 23:09 on August 25th, 2008

Thanks Rachel. I don't have much on it. I think Mikasi is in Denver.

Mikasi

at 04:34 on August 26th, 2008

Sort of wish I was there, but do plan on being in St. Paul next week for the RNC

Mikasi

flagged this story as Good Stuff

at 04:34 on August 26th, 2008

politisite, I like this story. It's good stuff.

Emilio Lizardo

at 05:06 on August 26th, 2008

From the Rocky Mountain News -

Retiree, 80, gets caught in protest
Updated 08:08 p.m., August 25, 2008

DOWNTOWN — Police mistook an 80-year-old man as an anarchist Monday night while he walked from the Denver library to his bus stop.

Of medium height and an aging frame, Cecil Bethea became trapped in a tide of protesters near Civic Center and was then detained by police.

Briefcase in hand, the elderly man stood and smoked a cigarette with a slight frown, as police fired pepper spray into the chaos of young anarchists surrounding him.

"Suddenly there was a police barricade on all four sides. I stood there and didn't know what to do," said the retired men's suits salesman. "I did not carry a sign and was not shouting, but just stood there and said nothing."

Two police officers drew Bethea from the crowd with his hands tied behind his back and searched him extensively because they were concerned with the content of his briefcase.

"It was ridiculous how they handled me. You would have thought I was a mass murderer or something," he said.