ACLU of WashingtonVerified account

BREAKING: A federal judge has held the city of Seattle in contempt of court after finding multiple violations of court orders barring SPD from indiscriminately using chemical weapons and other less lethal weapons against crowds. Read about each of these violations below.

Sept. 7: an officer sprayed several retreating protesters in the face with OC spray. The officer approached the protesters from behind while riding a bicycle, and there was no specific imminent threat of physical harm against the officer.

Sept. 7: an officer threw a blast ball – an explosive filled with pepper spray – indiscriminately into a group of protesters, even though he admittedly did not know who his target was.

Sept. 22: an officer was ordered to throw a blast ball into a crowd of protesters, despite there being no apparent physical threat to officers. According to the court, a desire to create separation between protesters and police does not authorize the use of less lethal weapons.