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Anonymous Claims This Is The NYPD Officer Who Pepper-Sprayed Protesters
By
Christopher Robbins
Published Sep 26, 2011
Modified Oct 1, 2011
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By
Christopher Robbins
Published Sep 26, 2011
Modified Oct 1, 2011
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In response to the seemingly unprovoked use of pepper spray on protestors around Union Square on Saturday, the hacking group Anonymous has leaked the name and personal information of the officer who allegedly discharged the spray. Anthony Bologna is a Deputy Inspector for Patrol Borough Manhattan South, and his name appears to be corroborated by a blown-up photo of his badge along with an eyewitness account.
Anonymous writes:
As we watched your officers kettle innocent women, we observed you barberically pepper spray wildly into the group of kettled women. We were shocked and disgusted by your behavior. You know who the innocent women were, now they will have the chance to know who you are. Before you commit atrocities against innocent people, think twice. WE ARE WATCHING!!! Expect Us!
Occupy Wall Street, one of the organizers of the protests (along with Anonymous) is reporting that Bologna is in fact the officer in question, and an article in NYC Indy Media from 2001 about the MayDay protest refers to Bologna by name as "notorious for his treatment of protestors."
A member of the People's Law Collective, who witnessed the arrests said a police officer, Lt. Anthony Bologna, notorious for his previous treatment of protestors, shoved two young activists, a male and a female and began to leave the now-agitated crowd. Bologna then left, and returned to arrest them.
Bologna formerly worked as the head of the First Precinct for five years until he was bumped up to Patrol Borough Manhattan South. "I'm leaving on a good note—every year crime has gone down," he told DNAinfo at the time. Over at The Rant, one commenter in a discussion on the pepper spraying notes, "the white shirt is my old CO, i wont monday morning qauterback his actions , BUT he was a douche when he was my CO"
Another adds, "Just to be clear, I was not questioning his use of the spray. I question him turning and walking away quite quickly. He left the cops, some who caught the spray themselves, to deal with his actions."
Indeed it appears that one officer winces immediately after the spray is discharged at close range. The NYPD refused to comment on whether or not Bologna discharged the pepper spray, shouting the email address to which we should direct any inquiries before abruptly hanging up. Calls to what Anonymous released as Bologna's number went unanswered.
Here is the video of the incident on Saturday, from two different angles.
Tagged
anonymous
anthony bologna
economy
nypd
occupation of wall street
occupy wall street
police brutality
protests
Ray Kelly
Christopher Robbins
Christopher Robbins is a New York City reporter covering transportation, affordable housing, local politics, and criminal justice. His work has also appeared in New York Magazine, The Village Voice and The New York Times. Chris is a graduate of Patrick Henry High School in Roanoke, Virginia, and enjoys biking to Fort Tilden in the summertime.
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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