Video Shows UC Davis Police Officer’s Warning To Students

November 23, 2011 5:41 PM

UC Davis police Lt. John Pike seen giving students a dispersal order. (credit: Juliedeanucc/YouTube)

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DAVIS (CBS13) — Video showing UC Davis police officer Lt. John Pike dousing peaceful Occupy UC Davis protesters with pepper spray last week has been viewed by millions worldwide and has sparked widespread criticism of the officers and school administrators.

But, a second video clip of the officer warning protesters of what was coming shows that at least some of the protesters may have known what they were getting themselves into.

Last Friday officers in riot gear warned “Occupy UC Davis” demonstrators to pack up their tents and leave the field located between the Memorial Union and Shields Library at about 3 p.m., and then moved in to take down the protesters’ tents a half hour later. When they refused to leave, protesters were warned that they would be physically removed. When they refused, they were sprayed with pepper spray by Pike and a second officer and arrested.

Public outrage exploded quickly when CBS13’s Checkey Beckford reported the pepper spraying and witnesses who recorded the incident posted clips of it to the Internet. One clip, which was posted to YouTube by student-run TV studio Aggie TV, has been seen over 1 million times.

The incident lead to more student rallies that called for the school’s chancellor, Linda Katehi, to resign. She condemned the attack, calling it a “horrible mistake” and claims she ordered police to not use force before the clash with students.

While clip of the pepper spraying has received widespread notoriety, a relatively obscure second video clip showing Lt. Pike warning protesters has not. The clip, which has been seen 19,000 times and was uploaded the same day as the viral video, shows Pike talking to and motioning to the line of seated protesters one-by-one. As he nears the camera, the microphone records what he’s saying.

“If you stay here (inaudible) you are subject to force. Pepper ball guns will be deployed,” said Pike. “Do you understand that if you stay here when the police squad comes, you are going to be subject to the use of force?” he asks another protester who then nods.

The clip shows the only evidence that students were given what’s called a dispersal order. That’s a warning to leave or face the use of force and arrest.

Video Shows UC Davis Police Officers Warning To Students

MIKE CHILDERS

THIS GOES TO SAM SHANE AND ALL YOU R MAKING WAY TO BIG OF DEAL ON THE PEPPER SPRAY THEY WERE TOLD TO MOVE THEY WERE BLOCKING A WALK WAY THAT IS MY RIGHT SAM TO WALK DOWN THE SIDEWALK NOT AROUND AND THEN TO GO AFTER THERE JOBS AND THE CHANCELLOR TO GET A LIFE THEY DO NOT EVEN KNOW WHAT THEY R PROTESTING I THOUGHT U WERE A FAIR MAN BUT THAT IS NOT TRUE HOW WOULD U LIKE TO DO A NEWS STORY AND HAVE SOME ONE COME AFTER YOU GOD BLESS PEACE
Steve

I think the students and the media should apologize to the officers and the rest of the country for only showing part of the actual conflict…liberals, go figure!!!
Bob Smith

Since they were sitting peacefully on property that, as students, they’ve paid for, they didn’t have to move. Some of you folks need to start thinking about what freedom really means.

To quote Mark Twain: Doesn’t matter what the press says. Doesn’t matter what the politicians or the mobs say. Doesn’t matter if the whole country decides that something wrong is something right. This nation was founded on one principle above all else: the requirement that we stand up for what we believe, no matter the odds or the consequences. When the mob and the press and the whole world tell you to move, your job is to plant yourself like a tree beside the river of truth, and tell the whole world – “No, you move.”

Steve

No Bob, we the taxpayer paid for it….Freedom does not mean defying the law, it means living within it….if they feel their rights are being violated, go to the courts, that is why we have them…..Besides, what about my rights to use that sidewalk, they are violating my rights to use a taxpayer paid right of way…..Thanks for the quote though……

Jen

I agree with both Mike and Steve. The protestors were given many ultimatums to move and when the police followed through with the pepper spray they were deemed the villains. The chancellor sent an email to alumni and stated these wackos were warned early on Friday morning with written communication spelling out what could happen if they didn’t move. Now she is trying to save face and making arrangements to further the protestors stay. Steve i right . . . we the tax payers pay for all of this . . . the campus, the security, and everything else. Since when does protesting actually change anything anyway. College was expensive when I attended twenty years ago and I didn’t get any financial assistance other than LOANS because my middle class parents made too much! School costs have to rise because of inflation . . . the only problem I have with increasing fees is when the administrators get increased compensation!

Phil Kampel

as you said, no matter the consequences. The consequences were pepper spray.

timatoe

Bob, you can’t really be that dense. There right to protest ends when they infringe upon my right to move freely. They were given ample opportunity to disperse or even simply move as to not hinder other people and they refused. They were even told they could continue to protest if they simply moved but refused. They CHOSE to be pepper sprayed after the warning, don’t buy into the BS that they are some how victims of a police state. They are simply victims of their own poor choice.

sgt youngman

not sayin im for or against the protest, but this whole pepper spray issue has been blown way out of porportion. for one, it is non lethal use of force and they were warned. I have personally been sprayed twice for training as do all personnel that are qualified to carry and use it. yea it burns but it is very rare that there are medical issues that arise from it.
Scott

As a disabled person and a student, i had to walk around the crowd, into the grass with the use of a cain. I pay to go to school and have the right to walk on the sidewalk. I also remember signing a student contract stating that i would follow all rules by deans, staff and law enforcement. I also remember in the contract it states i will not erect anything in that area without consent from the school….the moment they put up those tents and basically told UCD police to F off, they violated there student contracts. They have a right to protest if they want. I served in the Army, hence why im now disabled, i up held the right for them to protest, but they have to do it the right way. They did it the wrong way. And what most you of you people tend to forget, the college grounds are labeled as PRIVATE PROPERY. if the school tells you to leave, you have to leave thats the law. I sick of these whinny little pukes doing what they want and then crying when they dont get what they want. They should all be expelled and the non-students given a no trespass order and made to stay off the grounds. When these students take them to court and the school settles…..guess what, they fees will go even higher….way to go morons, you really thought this one through.

Hank A.

Well put, Scott. First of all, thank you for your service to our country, where apparently some people have started picking and choosing which laws they obey. These SPOILED BRATS are so used to having everything given to them and never being told “no, you can’t do that”, by their parents when growing up. If you don’t like the law(s), work to change them. These punks were duly warned and they thought the police were bluffing. Oh, well, guess they found out the hard way that they weren’t. They need to realize that their actions affect other people’s lives. Hope they learned a lesson from all this, but I doubt it.
monikaw

Really? You’re a disabled vet and a UC student, and you don’t know how to spell “cane”?

I call BS.

George

Go ahead and call it. Show your ignorance. I know lots of Veterans who come from backgrounds that couldn’t go straight to college after highschool. Most have spelling issues. When we write NCOERS we use the spell checker and an online thesaurus to use variety in our sentences. Especially since they started cracking down on the use of military lingo and abbrviations.

Besides, how do you know it wasn’t a pun?
He walks doen the sidewalk with Cain….
Ha ha ha ha!!!

Off the top of my head.

He had no authority to issue a warring/ultimatum in the first place. Let’s not forget that these were just one step up from rent-a-cops that were under direct order to remove the tents not the peaceful students. You don’t send an ex-marine Sargent in and expect that he is going to feel anything but his own personal need to exert authority that he did no have. Likened to tossing a lit match into a pile of dried leaves and then being surprised that you have a fire.

Steve

Off the top…How do you know what “authority” he had? The police are the police, whatever you may think of them…they have the ultimate authority to disperse people who are violating the law…..As far as the Marine comment goes, well we can tell that your liberal teachings are at work. As you enjoy your Thanksgiving Holiday, please give thanks to those who keep us safe and the ability to have these special days….the Marines and the rest of our great military…Happy Thanksgiving…

Off the top of my head.

Not meant as disrespect to our military. Was meant to show that as to a measured response it was out of balance. Killing a fly with sledge hammer. As far as I know it has not been determined that the students did anything against the law?

No one single human should have ultimate authority over another.
Thanksgiving Holiday
sgt y

how can you compare the use of pepper spray to a sledge hammer? it is the least amount of deadly force or any force possible for that sake next to telling them verbaly to leave. its not like they shot them with rubber bullets or bean bags. it was pepper spray! so it burns for an hour. its only temporary
Ha ah

Yes, they did have authority. They were given order to remove tents and trespassers off the property. The protesters were ordered to allow the officers to go about their sworn duty. They protesters violated law by interfering in the officers duties. The officers had every right at that point to use force to remove the protesters in a manner that least caused the OFFICERS threat of harm, and quickly neutralized the threat of harm. By giving the protesters warning that was a legal order to disperse and it gives the officers lawful reason to follow through with threat. If the protesters were not there when the police were ordered to remove tents there would be cause to wonder about pepper spray, but the reason for police there was trespass violations. The protesters, had they physically tried to stop the police, would have been committing to a felony case of trespass on public property and interfering in police duty. The kids should have limited their protest to the side of the quad where they were not stopping the police from advancing to the tents.

Ryan

haha…First of all…you are never an EX-Marine…but a former Marine. Your arrogance and Ignorance is palpable. I know these officers, they are former SWAT team Sergeants, Former Soldiers who fought for our country and now retired cops from what you might call (real) Police Departments. Sadly, there was no amazing Leadership shown that day, but he warned these students…he is the “authority”. Watch what comes off the “top of your head”…you need to have a reality check pal. Happy Thanksgiving I will be praying for these men, and anyone else who puts on a uniform to make this country a safer place.
Ha ah

Off the top…
Do you have a bit of prejudice against marines as well as police? The incredible amount of discipline taught to marines is above and beyond anything a student is taught. Military people are taught to follow orders and deeply respect the chain of command unless it violates the right to live.UC Davis cops are not one step from rent a cops as you have stated in your ignorance. UC Davis cops have to go through the same exact academy as the real deal plus a few more courses that specifically tailor to college campuses since the Virginia Tech massacre. Now as for ex-sergeants exerting authority? Absolutely. We are taught to take charge, be leaders, come to the forefront during a crisis and decisively commit to a course of action. That is why the entire world laughs at you when you make a statement like above. Anyone who has ever seen a “ex-sergeant” on the battlefield knows that sergeants are invaluable in tactical decisions in the field and in the office. PS, your obvious dislike for any authority is quite palpable, perhaps you should coin your self “kindergarten anarchist in training” rather than “Off the top of my head”.

Jonus

THe trouble is that I see protesters sitting on a sidewalk not really blocking anything or anybody. I also see Campus policeman John Pike abusing his authority as I do not see any tents in the back. So what I see is protesters that are not violent in any way shape or form sitting on a sidewalk and refusing to move after an illegal order by an over zealous want to be Campus policeman abuse these students who have paid to be a student. So it seems to me they had a right to be on that sidewalk and as much right as Officer John Pike.

lduket

Hay libhead. How do you know the order to disperse was illegal?

ComformistBS

@Iduket They weren’t instructed to do so by UC Admin. They were told to clear tents and they did. The OC spraying after-the-fact of the singing circle of seated students protesting, WAS NOT.

bishop916

This is the same student body that tried to block I-80 last year. The student groups feed their videos to the local media, which then go viral… They were making a big deal about the pepper spray pellets used last year, to block the kids from impeding traffic on the freeway off ramps and prevent them from advancing down on to the the freeway. So I guess they should have used real bullets then? I don’t get it. So you think they can just do whatever they want?

Wayne

Pepper spray is not justified to ensure your so-called right to walk on the sidewalk. It’s overkill.

timatoe

No, pepper spray was the force used to overcome the resistance of the protesters. Feel free to look up the multitudes of case law justifying such use of force. The point they locked arms in an attempt to resist arrest the use of the pepper spray became totally legit. Too bad so many people will believe the drivel of the media rather than fact.

Off the top of my head.

“”An eight-person federal jury returned a unanimous verdict for the Q-Tip Pepper Spray Eight activists/plaintiffs, finding the County of Humboldt and City of Eureka liable for excessive force in violation of the 4th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.
“”
Wayne

Opinions do not make facts. The use of force by police should always be closely examined. I never just accept what so-called mainstream media has to say in their very limited depth of coverage. I think the Occupy whatever “movement” is kind of corny but I don’t understand why people in authority feel so compelled to stop them. Seem like I remember aggressive “tea party” protesters forming something of a gauntlet for some members of congress and there was no pepper spray used. This was on university grounds, one would think the standards for allowing protest would be … well… more liberal in a permissive kind of way.

Lynne

Wayne, you obviously haven’t watched the new video that has surfaced showing the officers allowing the protestors to continue on’ the officers even took a stand down position. That’s when the protestors encircled the officers and held them hostage from an exit route in exchange for the protestors who had been arrested. And by the way, that pepper spray must be seriously watered down because the stuff I carry will make your eyes pop out. Those guys looked like they were barely affected. Do you know what Cop-ching is? It’s the sound whiners here when they figure they can get a cop to assault them so they can collect a settlement. Guess these protestors just figured out a way to pay for the tuition hike on the back of the taxpayers.

Lynne

Yes I know, should read “hear”
Wayne

I think the police over reacted. They didn’t need to get into the middle of it from the get-go. This stuff has been dealt with differently in some parts of the country and they had the benefit of knowledge of what had come before. I think you’re doing a bit too much creative thinking with this “cop ching” thing. Well trained and knowledgeable police officers can avoid situations like what happened at UC Davis and still keep the peace. I saw the video where the officer walked down a row of people applying pepper spray I didn’t see any one of those people blocking any officers. Seems to me there’s two unrelated events you’re talking about Lynne.

jennifer

It says that only SOME of the students heard. Those students should have told the other student protesting what the officer said. According to one of the student protesters, they were chanting too loudly to hear any dispersal order–apparently, only ONE person was able to hear what the officer said.

And that one person FAILED to tell the others.
jeff

They were not just blocking the sidewalk… They were not letting the cops leave with the people they arrested. Watch all the clips not just one. They are clearly chanting, “if you let them go, we will let you leave.”
ComformistBS

The fact remains, whether he gave them a warning or not, isn’t even the issue.

The UCPD that were on-scene, took the action upon their own volition, unilaterally, without ANY direction or authorization to do so from the UC administration.

The Chancellor had already publicly announced that YESTERDAY. In addition to that, UC has dropped all charges against those arrested and is paying for their medical bills related to the incident. It is CLEAR given the fallout and facts to date that the UCPD commanders were incompetent and overstepped their authority.
Lynne

Those of you posting comments here saying the officers overstepped their authority have NOT watched the new footage that has surfaced, The officers were letting the protestors protest and had actually backed away from them when the protestors encircled the officers and basically held them hostage in exchange for the protestors who had been arrested. The cops were totally chill until they were put in a defensive position by the protestors. If you refuse to see what is right in front of you, next time a group of hostile people surrounds you and you are seriously outnumbered, think of these officers and then, DON’T call 911 for a cop to come help you.

Off the top of my head.

Children remember what you were told: Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words.. You know the reset.
Now ask yourself in this case who exactly was waving the sticks and stones?
Wayne

Don’t call 911 if you don’t support the way they dealt with this? Where are we if our law enforcement officer’s can’t tolerate some criticism? Geez

James

Lt John Pike is a pathetic excuse for a human being and should be fired. I don’t care if he warned students or not. It is entirely irrelevant. Police use of force should never exceed the force used against them. In this case, there was no force used against them. So, some students are sitting on a sidewalk. My God, call in the army. I’ve got an idea. Let them sit. Walk around them or step over them. Buy them a Big Gulp and wait for nature to take its course. Maybe, sit down with them and find out what their beef is. Maybe it’s something that you be seated for as well. This guy is nothing but a bully. He’s a monster and so are are the “law and order ” a holes who think that using excessive force is fine. It’s not fine. It’s barbaric. Shame on this loser with a badge and all the fascists who support him. Move to Somalia, where your barbaric views are more appropriated.
Tim

The students were not being given a dispersal order. There is a set script for that. The officers had arrestees in custody and were trying to bring them out of the quad. The group of officers were indeed encircled and were told they would be allowed to pass if they released the arrestees. Pike warned them to move or be subjected to force including a chemical agent (pepperball contains powdered pepperspray). He is seen leaning repeatedly into the line of students and warning them. The line of seated students turned around to avoid being sprayed. In the actual spraying footage the encircled officers with their prisoners were behind the students. Pike stepped through them and then sprayed.

This was not a case of just trying to clear the sidewalk. The students had delved into actual criminal activity by literally holding the officers hostage until they released their prisoners.
Steve K.

My question is to the news people, why did it take so long to show this video or even let the public know that a warning was given and how the incident had the potential of getting worse? Did your station state the students wanted them to release individual(s) they arrested? If you are going to give a story, give the whole story and not lean it for hype and ratings.

chris reiss

Good question. My question is why no news outlet will say anything about this (i contacted a couple. The police can be overheard about to fire pepperballs into the crowd … http://www.quora.com/Christopher-Reiss/Smoking-gun-at-six-minutes-UCD-Police-can-be-heard-preparing-to-fire-pepper-balls-into-the-crowd?q=smoking+gun+at

david

officers should use a bull horn when dealing with protestors so anything said is completely audible to protestors including witnesses nearby. always thought that refusing a lawful order by a law enforcement officer was cause for arrest. have no idea if pepper spray is authorized for this type of civil disobedience or if it is left to individual officers to determine or ranking officer. tasers are kind of in the same question bucket as to when they can or should be used. personally have never refused an officer’s direction, lawful order.
chris reiss

This hasn’t been covered yet by any news outlet, but police can be overheard preparing to fire those pepperballs into the crowd, 6 minutes into the first video. An officer can be heard to say, “Use the gun, they’re not gonna stop.” See http://www.quora.com/Christopher-Reiss/Smoking-gun-at-six-minutes-UCD-Police-can-be-heard-preparing-to-fire-pepper-balls-into-the-crowd?q=smoking+gun+at

Bill Monroe

Thia would seem to back the police version of the story, that they were concerned for their safety from the crowd.

In the end, the “demands” of these students is utlimately very selfish. They are demanding lower tuition costs. This benefits only them. The staff andf aculty association backs the students. Hmmm, will the university staff and faculty demand a 20% reduction in salary and benefits so these demands can be met? Or do they just demand that the poor taxpayer further subsidize these students?

Steve

Bill – You are correct, we now live in a selfish society. These students and many people their age believe they are entitled to bleed the taxpayers anyway they can. The unfortunate backlash from parents who provided to well and didn’t instill the value of hard work creates these opportunities and I am one of those parents…..I wish I had a mulligan…..Happy Thanksgiving..

moderatesense

Funny how the video clip omits the warning that the protesters were given. And since when does the public encircle law enforcement and tell them when to come and go?

ConformistBS

@moderatesense: Since 1787 under the guise of “WE THE PEOPLE.”

moderatesense

For you idiots that keep repeating the same babble over and over: watch the video and read the comments to this story. The protesters were clearly warned, they understood and the use of pepper spray was the lowest amount of force that could possible be used.

This Thanksgiving, be thankful to all the law enforcement and military that are putting their lives on the line for our liberty.
Tim

The true issue here that has been ignored. The protesters indeed told the officers they were free to leave, but only if they released the prisoners they arrested just before this. The police were backed into a corner. They were severely outnumbered (about two dozen against 200) and were basically being held hostage until the protesters demands were met.

Off the top of my head.

Lets try and keep it in perspective. As said two dozen supposedly trained and ARMED officers felt threatened by 200 students(most who were just bystanders) welding books and pencils. Your right those pencils are dangerous. Someone could have gotten a eye put out in all the confusion or worst yet they might use them in the future as a real weapon to write about the real issues. Happy Thanksgiving all.

Steve

Exactly….. 24 against 200….what are fair odds….. The point is, they broke the law, they knew the punishment and decided that being pepper sprayed was worth it….lesson taught, listen, lesson learned, pepper spray isn’t worth it……

ConformistBS

FACT #1 – UC Admin. DID NOT DIRECT the UCPD to disperse the seated protestors, only to clear tents.

FACT #2 – UC Admin. has DROPPED ALL CHARGES against the protestors.

FACT #3 – UC Admin. is picking up the tab for the protestors medical bills related to the incident.

Now, with that said, all of you BROWN SHIRT sporting neo-nazi right wing POLICE STATE tactic sympathizer wannabes and clones, GET STUFFED and try to have a Happy Thanksgiving absent your mindset.
Off the top of my head.

Its Turkey time… And on that note. While I can not take credit for the original slogan I have added to it. — If only they enforced bank(and police brutality) regulations like they do park(and campus) rules, we wouldn’t be in this mess in the first place –
Eric

hahahahahahaha you all got pepper sprayed!

Off the top of my head.

Yeah funny, Ha ha. It’s about time the little punks like these got theirs.. “Associate Professor of English Celeste Langan was grabbed by her hair, thrown on the ground, and arrested. Associate Professor Geoffrey O’Brien was injured by baton blows. Professor Robert Hass, former Poet Laureate of the United States, National Book Award and Pulitzer Prize winner, was also struck with a baton.” I’m thinking that the stature challenged Officer Pike and his buddy’s has bitten off just a little more then even he can chew….

Benca

I think KOVR (and affiliates) should open and close each news cast for the next week with each reporter who vilified UC Davis Officer Pike over the last week with their full apologizing for their irresponsible reporting and failure to ASK Questions and get all the answers before they went on the air with the short clip of just the peeper spray incident.
Off the top of my head.

Maybe we could just respect our elders…

Those who make peaceful revolution impossible will make violent revolution inevitable. – John F. Kennedy

“When the people fear their government, there is tyranny; when the government fears the people, there is liberty. ” – Thomas Jefferson