SEATTLE – The Seattle Police Department is investigating allegations stemming from a clash with protesters in the Capitol Hill neighborhood over the weekend, The Seattle Times reports.
A new, highly edited video posted on YouTube is also calling into question the actions of a lieutenant with the East Precinct. The video, shot during a tense encounter near 12th Avenue and Madison Street early Sunday morning, focuses on Lt. Gregg Calder. He was part of a team of officers patrolling the streets during Pride Weekend.
The hand-selected clips, edited with music and graphics, appear to show protesters getting unruly.
The creator of the video claims Lt. Calder pepper sprayed a man in the face and then pulled him into the street by his shirt. The video claims Calder attacked the 24-year-old for no reason.
Police say the group appeared to be affiliated with anarchist groups and the man in the video was arrested for kicking Calder in the knee. The video does not show the alleged kicking.
In an interview with the Capitol Hill Seattle Blog, East Precinct Commander Capt. Ron Wilson said he did not see the incident personally, but has no information to dispute the report that Calder was kicked.
"I believe it's factual, the person did it, moved back into the crowd and then reappeared and they tried to arrest him," Wilson told the blog.
Seattle Police say protesters defied police orders by continuing to enter the street and jump on parked cars.
The crowd became agitated when pepper spray was used at least twice.
According to the Seattle Police media log, six people were arrested including the man pepper sprayed in the video. SPD said at least one woman was well known in local anarchist communities.
Lt. Calder is one of the leaders of the Seattle Police Department's 20/20 reform team.
KING 5's Travis Pittman contributed to this report
