Federal agents spray restrained protester, video shows (Full Transcript)
[00:00:00] Speaker 1: Federal agents sprayed a protester in the face with a chemical irritant while he was pinned to the ground. The image was captured by a Minnesota Star-Tribune photographer who said witnesses told him federal agents had taken away at least two teens sparking tension at the protest. According to the photographer, the scene grew even more heated when a Border Patrol agent shoved a woman with a bicycle to the ground. Video of the incident shows agents atop a person on the ground, but when agents stood him up, the man attempted to break free. Agents pinned him down again, and another agent walked over and sprayed him in the face while he was restrained. It is not clear why the protester was initially detained. The Star-Tribune photographer said he did not see the man on the ground put his hands on the agents. Agents then deployed tear gas and other chemical irritants to disperse the crowd, he said. The Department of Homeland Security says agents were harassed and blocked by crowds while trying to take bathroom breaks. Saying in a statement, at each gas station where the agents stopped to use the restroom, groups of agitators appeared, yelled at them, stalked them, and even tried to prevent law enforcement vehicles from leaving, creating unsafe conditions. Help me. Get me out of here. After the tear gas was deployed, you can see the man, who was sprayed in the face, running from the scene not in custody. It's unclear if he was arrested. CNN has reached out to DHS about this specific incident.
- Video and eyewitness reporting describe a restrained protester being sprayed with a chemical irritant by federal agents.
- The initial reason for the protester’s detention is unclear, and a photographer said he did not observe the man assault agents.
- Tensions reportedly rose after claims that agents detained teens and after an agent shoved a woman with a bicycle.
- Agents deployed tear gas and other chemical irritants to disperse the crowd.
- DHS alleges agents faced harassment and obstruction by crowds at gas stations during restroom stops.
- The sprayed individual was later seen running away not in custody; arrest status remains unclear.
- CNN requested DHS comment about the specific incident shown in video.