St. Louis Cop Macing Crowd 'Regrettable' But Not Illegal, Judge Rules
A St. Louis officer who was filmed outside Busch Stadium soaking a group of protesters and photographers in pepper spray in 2017 was justified, a St. Louis judge ruled Friday, rejecting testimony from other bystanders who said that the incident was a needless act of aggression.
On September 29, 2017, during protests over the acquittal of a former St. Louis cop charged with murder, officer William Olsten found himself near the center of a chaotic series of events in which several officers tased one man and bodyslammed a reverend — and that's when Olsten, caught on camera by multiple sources, sprayed a gathering crowd with mace.
On Friday, Judge Thom C. Clark acquitted Olsten, who is now a former cop, on three felony assault charges filed in 2019.
"While regrettable, unfortunate and concerning that the complaining witnesses experienced the unpleasant effects of the chemicals," Clark wrote, "defendant's actions were justified under the circumstances."
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