Lawyers Deny Group Was Plotting To Make Molotov Cocktails, Only Beer
As dignitaries arrive for the NATO Summit in Chicago, protesters and police are making news for an arrest controversy earlier this week in Bridgeport.
For the first time, as CBS 2’s Pam Zekman reports, one of the nine protesters scooped up by police in a controversial raid says he was mistreated and his civil rights violated.
Darrin Annussek says he walked to Chicago from Philadelphia to participate in Occupy protests, only to be seized by police in a raid on an apartment at 32nd and Morgan.
“For 18 hours, we were handcuffed to a bench and our legs were shackled together,” he said. “Some of our cries for the bathroom were either ignored or met with silence.”
Annusek was released Friday morning along with four others reportedly suspected of preparing molotov cocktails. At least one other detainee was released several hours later Friday.
Kris Hermes, of the National Lawyers Guild said: “There is absolutely no evidence of molotov cocktails or any other criminal activity going on at this building.”
A tenant who agreed to host the out-of-town protesters says the police did seize his home-brew making equipment, including buckets, beer bottles and caps.
“If anybody would like some, I would like to offer them a sip of my beer,” said William Vassilakis.
The National Lawyers Guild says the warrantless raid violated their clients’ civil rights.
“It is outrageous behavior on the part of the City of Chicago,” said Sarah Gelsomino.
On Friday, Chicago cops returned to the Bridgeport neighborhood. But police officials refuse to comment on the case.
“We’re not going to talk about it. It’s an ongoing investigation,’’ said Police Supt. Garry McCarthy
Zekman asked Annussek if police would be able to latch onto any previous arrests. He told her, “Myself, I have no arrests.”
However, CBS 2 confirmed Annussek was arrested in December in connection with another Occupy event, in Raleigh, N.C.
The National Guild Lawyers say they have not been allowed to talk to others still in police custody.
If they are not charged by 11:30 p.m. Friday they have to be released, the lawyers say.
The detainee released Friday evening, Robert Lamorte, said he had hitch-hiked to Chicago from New York. He said he doesn’t plan on visiting Chicago again.
Link:
http://chicago.cbslocal.com/2012/05/18/arrested-protester-charges-mistreatment-after-police-raid-apartment/
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