Massachusetts Police Investigate Pepper Spray Video

By April Newell 12-8-14

Massachusetts State Police are investigating a video, aired on YouTube, that appears to depict a state trooper using pepper spray on a protester Thursday night.

Thousands of protesters gathered on the Boston Common Thursday night to protest the grand jury’s failure to indict the police officers involved in the deaths of Mike Brown and Eric Garner.  Signage reading ‘Enough is Enough’ and ‘I Can’t Breathe’ was used to honor Garner’s last words.  Although the protest was peaceful, tension between protesters and police ran high.

Protester Kin Moy says he was videotaping arrests at the protest when he was threatened by a trooper who told him to get back or he was going to get sprayed.  In the video, the police officers are seen attempting to move protesters back and one officer can audibly be heard saying ‘Go on now, you’re going to get sprayed.”
The camera then shifts to Moy’s face, which appears to be covered in liquid.  Moy says he was backing off, but the officer sprayed him regardless.  The video is gaining attention on social media, and had over 3,000 views by Sunday night.

The State Police are holding an internal investigation to determine whether the act violates departmental policy.  They are currently in the process of reaching out to Moy to aid the investigation.