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Winnipeg Free Press - PRINT EDITION

Occupy protester charged with assaulting police officer

By: Staff Writer

Posted: 09/19/2012 1:00 AM

An image from an online video shows a confrontation between police and protesters.

A 20-year-old man who appears to have suffered convulsions after being taken into custody for his involvement in an illegal march on Portage Avenue late Monday afternoon is facing charges of assaulting a peace officer.

Winnipeg police said officers attempted to contain the illegal march because the protestors had placed themselves in jeopardy by taking up two lanes of traffic.

Speaking Tuesday, Winnipeg Police Service spokesman Patrol Sgt. Wally Antoniuk said the protesters did not have a permit and were placing themselves and others at risk of injury through their actions.

Antoniuk said a video recording of the altercation posted online shows responding officers acted in a measured way to get about 100 protestors off the street and out of harm's way.

"The issue here is one of safety, both for the people marching down the street and the people driving on Portage Avenue," Antoniuk said.

"Because this was not a sanctioned event, they didn't have the proper resources to protect them with officers to control traffic.

"They put themselves at risk marching down the street. Officers attempted to reduce the risks by getting them to move onto the sidewalk."

Antoniuk denied allegations officers had Tasered a man, adding no stun guns were discharged at the scene.

He said he couldn't explain the protester's apparent seizure and wasn't permitted or qualified to discuss the man's medical condition.

The man was taken to a hospital and later released.

The protest marked the first anniversary of the worldwide Occupy movement. Similar protests were held in other cities.

Antoniuk said at one point, police identified a man believed to be the leader of the illegal protest and arrested him, then it's alleged a second man, who towered over the officers at the scene, pushed and shoved an officer.

Antoniuk said officers were swarmed by the protesters when the second man was arrested, adding the officers were encircled by the crowd, who were chanting at them and making a lot of noise.

The second man was handcuffed and being led toward a police cruiser when he collapsed onto the sidewalk and appeared to go into convulsions.

Antoniuk said an officer can be heard on the online recording asking for an ambulance to be rushed to the scene, adding that was the appropriate action for the officer to take.

He said the man arrested faces charges of assaulting a peace officer and obstructing a peace officer. He was released on a promise to appear in court.

The man believed to be the leader of the protest slipped away from police. He has not been identified and police are looking for him, Antoniuk said.

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition September 19, 2012 A3

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