Seattle councilmember calls officer’s May Day behavior ‘idiotic’

The Seattle Police Department faced tough questions from the Seattle City Council’s Public Safety Committee where the impression among the councilmembers was that it was the cops’ actions that provoked the May Day riot.

Councilmember Bruce Harrell said that after watching the video of the first arrest during the anti-capitalist march on Capitol Hill, it looked as though the officers’ tactics started it all.

“Why did that occur, because that looked like &#8212 from the video that I’ve seen &#8212 the first act of violence, the first act of unfairness,” Harrell said.

Incident Commander and Seattle Police Captain Chris Fowler responded that officers were following their response plan during that arrest. He added that the crowd’s violent response was to blame for the situation spinning out of control.

“But wouldn’t you agree a person on a bicycle trying to arrest someone while on the bike, from behind it, just seems a little idiotic,” Harrell said. “I don’t know how else to describe it. It just doesn’t make sense to me.”

The crowd in the chamber cheered.

Fowler explained why officers made the arrest.

“There was probable cause to arrest that individual and again, the philosophy has always been a peaceful protest, but when people commit acts of violence or serious property damage, we want them to take action and make that arrest.”

Fowler told KIRO Radio’s Jason Rantz Show Tuesday night that 2015 May Day riot was unlike anything he’s ever seen.

A total of nine officers were injured during the protest. Three officers sustained serious injuries.