Except for the small problem that the Oakland Police Department does not use, nor does it have any rubber bullets or similiar in its inventory. All the info also shows that it was only Oakland police present, ruling out an outside agency using that munition.
The videos taken from different angles show one of the Oakland officers tossing 2 flash bangs in that direction. IT also shows the marine going to the ground when the first bang goes off because of the people scattering and bumping into each other, followed a few seconds by the next flash bang detonation.
Flashbang - M84 - Source
A stun grenade, also known as a flashbang, is a non-lethal weapon. The first devices like this were created in the 1960s at the order of the British Special Air Service as an incapacitant.
These grenades are designed to temporarily neutralize the combat effectiveness of enemies by disorienting their senses. The flash of light momentarily activates all light sensitive cells in the eye, making vision impossible for approximately five seconds until the eye restores itself to its normal, unstimulated state. The extremely loud blast produced by the grenade adds to its incapacitating properties by disturbing the fluid in the ear.
When detonated, the fuse/grenade body assembly remains intact. The body is a tube with holes along the sides that emit the light and sound of the explosion. The explosion does not cause shrapnel injury, but can still burn. The concussive blast of the detonation can injure and the heat created can ignite flammable materials such as fuel. The fires that occurred during the Iranian Embassy Siege in London were caused by stun grenades. The filler consists of about 4.5 grams of a pyrotechnic metal-oxidant mix of magnesium or aluminium and an oxidizer such as ammonium perchlorate or potassium perchlorate.
* Emphesis added by me *
As with any less than lethal device, as well as just walking down the street, and injury can occur. However, we dont know how the Marine was injured, and nothing in the videos show exactly what caused his injury, which is why the investigation was rated priority and turned over to the PA's office instead of the Police department.
Should we wait for the investigation or should be get the rope and find a tree now for the 100 meter rush to judgment.
What some people in this thread are ignroing is the fact that protestors were throwing glass bottles, rocks poaint and other items at the police when the flash bangs were used. Any reason there is a rush to judge the police while ignoring the actions of some of the protestors? How about when the marine went to the ground, is it possible he hit his head, or something hit him, or possibly one of the other scattering protestors got tangled up in the process, excacerbating the injury?
If the injury was caused by the flash bang, youre still going to be hard pressed to find anthing illegal with the action taken. Unless it was a policy violation or the officer violated local or state law, the use of those items are allowed.
Why am I pointing this stuff out? Its not to protect / side with the officers, or to condemn the protestors. I do this so that people can get a better idea of both sides of that incident, instead of just running into the wall with blinders on simply because the in thing right now is to blame law enforcement, while ignoring anything coming from the non law enforcement side.
Use common sense please people, knock the 100 meter rush to judgment off and let the investigation run its course. Ive seen many of you argue that a person is innocent until proven guilty, and law enforcement is protected under the guaranteed right.
Respects
edit on 27-10-2011 by Xcathdra because: (no reason given)
edit on 27-10-2011 by Xcathdra because: (no reason
given)
