Posted on 10/27/2011 8:47:22 AM PDT by SeekAndFind
Scott Olsen survived two tours of Iraq, but his life could be over after being critically injured by a police projectile at Occupy Oakland, The Guardian reports. He's 24 years old.
As we know, Occupy Oakland got incredibly ugly this week as police tried to remove protesters from their camp in front of City Hall by using tear gas, fire crackers, and rubber bullets.
Olsen suffered a head injury on Tuesday night, and is now in critical condition in Oakland's Highland Hospital. Jay Finneburgh, a photographer on the scene, managed to witness and take pictures of the incident. Police policy specifically prohibits the firing of these weapons at a person's head.
"This poor guy was right behind me when he was hit in the head with a police projectile. He went down hard and did not get up," Finneburgh wrote.
At first, Doctors told Olsen's friends that he was in critical, but stable condition. Now they're being told that his skull has been fractured and his brain is beginning to swell. Neurologists are in the process of determining whether or not he will require surgery.
According to Keith Shannon, a friend who served with Olsen during his time in Iraq, Olsen was hit in the head with a tear gas or smoke canister, and he has the scar on his head to prove it.
Meanwhile, Oakland police admit that they used tear gas and baton rounds, but have denied the use of flash bang grenades. Protesters, however, say they saw police use them, and the more video that comes out, the harder it is to believe the police.
Olsen hails from Wisconsin, served tours of Iraq in 2006 and 2007, and is active in both Veterans for Peace and Iraq Veterans Against the War.
(Excerpt) Read more at businessinsider.com ...
Watch footage of the protest here ( there’s a video of Olsen collapsing):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OZLyUK0t0vQ
Hyperbole from the sounds of it.
What does anyone know about this “Scott Olsen”, is he a REAL Iraq/Afghan Combat Vet or is he a Paper-Pushin’ REMF? We need to know!
Well, the left was hoping for a “Kent State” moment.
The media is delighted. Leftists always benefit from tragedy.
How ironic that he had a good job, survived two tours in Iraq, only to sign on with a ‘professional’ gang of Marxists posing as protesters and moving targets for the media to get shots as they get pummeled of their own accord...
You swim with sharks, you get bit..
A helluva way to seek sympathy and gather support for anti-capitalism, but to the media who helped birth this pig, break out the spare lipstick..
Fractured skull from the sound of it.
Democrats killing democrats, last time this happened the Silent Majority went on a 49 state sweep.
I feel sorry for the poor guy, but let’s face it - you sleep with dogs, you get fleas. Now he’ll probably be the poster boy for the union thugs, who will increasingly feel empowered to goad the police.
Play stupid games, win stupid prizes...
The guy should have had enough SITAWARE (and common sense) to bug out from the area before the Oakland PD cleared the area.
All I saw was tear gas being fired above the crowd. Then a pan to someone lying on the ground with no tear gas around him and then lots of confusion....he was hit in the head by something and someone. I am not about to suggest this was done by the police
Shipmate, anyone who served in “Theater” suffered real threat on a daily basis (IDF, suicide bombers, etc.)it doesnt much matter whether they were “admin” or not.
Very sad, but he shouldn’t have been there.
Question that needs to be asked, did protesters PROVOKE police?
Yup... Reminds me of what African President Lunda told Anthony Quinn...
We have a saying in the Bush, Unguama Intikiva: Be careful what you want, you might get it...
Don’t care. If he wasn’t down there running with marxist scum throwing their little tantrum it wouldn’t have happened.
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