Questions Persist About Protest Handling
Cambridge police used pepper spray twice in August, with different responses to inquiries about the incidents.
In one case, residents were forced from their homes after police used pepper spray to dislodge a suspect, but the attempt was unsuccessful.
Police commissioner Christine Elow said police wouldn’t use the chemical again in a similar situation.
In another incident, a Harvard Square demonstration against Israel’s war in Gaza, police arrested three people and used pepper spray, claiming protesters were assaulting officers.
- Charges ranged from disorderly conduct to throwing an explosive or unknown chemical substance.
City councillors requested a detailed report from police about one incident, but the handling of the other incident raised more questions.
Author's summary: Cambridge police face scrutiny over pepper spray use.