| Updated: 1/18/2012 4:41 pm |
Published: 1/16/2012 1:32 pm
|
Law enforcement officials used horses to try and contain the crowd after the Martin Luther King Jr. parade in downtown Tulsa.
The parade started at 11 on Monday morning and went through the Greenwood district of downtown.
In the video, the crowd runs from the horses, then police lead 18-year-old, Marquis Jones and 19-year-old, Edward Boyd through the crowd in handcuffs.
Authorities said animal control told Jones he couldn't have his pit bull at the parade. They said he refused to listen, and minutes later chaos broke out. Deputies on horses charged into a crowd. Some folks trapped were between guard rails.
"The fools from the Sheriff's Department came running down with horses,” said witness P.J. Slusher. “Running everybody into the fence with kids out here."
"That was uncalled for, for law enforcement of Tulsa," said witness Scott Gordon.
Deputies said they did the best they could. Coy Jenkins has worked Tulsa County for more than a decade.
"We're law enforcement, and it’s our responsibility to keep this a peaceful holiday,” said Jenkins. “A lot of time people don't want that to happen."
Before getting lead away in cuffs, Jones’ dog ended up in a fight with another dog. They just happened to be too close to each other. Even TPD’s gang unit intervened.
Deputies said when they tried to break it up, some in the crowd refused to move. Deputies and officers felt threatened.
"We got away just in time when the horses came by my kids," said witness Tanisha Hughes.
All of this happened on a day set aside to honor a man who stood for non-violence and peace.
Jones was arrested for possession of marijuana, and obstruction. Boyd is accused of resisting officers. One of the Sheriff's Department's horses was injured, although it's unclear how badly. A woman in the crowd reportedly suffered an anxiety attack.
