Pictures of an undercover California Highway Patrol officer aiming a firearm at demonstrators protesting recent grand jury decisions in the police-involved killings of Eric Garner and Michael Brown have gone viral, stoking anger and fear as protests in the Bay Area continue to result in looting and arrests.
In the two photos, the plainclothes officer can be seen pointing a handgun at a camera and a crowd while standing over a man who appears to be covering his head.
Oakland Police Lt. Chris Bolton confirmed the officer was an undercover CHP investigator on his verified Twitter account and referred all questions to the CHP.
A spokeswoman for the CHP said the agency is only responding to email inquiries about the matter. Calls to an Oakland police spokesperson seeking additional comment were not returned, and it was not immediately clear whether the clash happened in Oakland or Berkeley.
Click here to read the full story on LATimes.com.
Also, major props to @MikeShortPhoto, who had a gun pointed at him in Oakland, kept working #berkeleyprotests pic.twitter.com/rMImnkxCdn
— Vivian Ho (@VivianHo) December 11, 2014
A police officer aims his gun after he and his partner were attacked during Berkeley protests: http://t.co/bbXKwOInqu pic.twitter.com/YcywQ6PPF2
— Reuters (@Reuters) December 11, 2014
The #OaklandProtest pictured man isn't an OPD officer & not an OPD arrest. OPD 1st responded to scene on report from other agency. 1/1
— Captain Chris Bolton (@OPDChris) December 11, 2014
2/2 That outside agency has been notified to provide details and address concerns re #OaklandProtest concerns.
— Captain Chris Bolton (@OPDChris) December 11, 2014
Last night #OaklandPolice responded to a request for help during a California Highway Patrol arrest at Bay & Harrison St. (1/2)
— Captain Chris Bolton (@OPDChris) December 11, 2014
2/2 #OaklandPolice PIO is referring all inquiries regarding this incident to the California Highway Patrol.
— Captain Chris Bolton (@OPDChris) December 11, 2014