Seattle Council members protest after tear gas used on crowd

SEATTLE (AP) — Police in Seattle again used flash bangs and tear gas to break up a crowd of George Floyd protesters overnight after authorities said people throw rocks and fireworks at officers, but City Council members say police overreacted.

The mayhem Sunday night in the city’s Capitol Hill neighborhood happened for a second night in a row.

Earlier Sunday, a man drove a car at protesters, hit a barricade and got out of the vehicle brandishing a pistol. At least one person was injured, a 27-year-old male who was shot and taken to a hospital in stable condition, the Seattle Fire Department said. Police said the suspect was taken into custody.

Seattle Police Chief Carmen Best told MSNBC on Monday that the driver's motive is not known but it was clear that he was driving into the crowd, and not having a mechanical problem. The protester was shot after the car stopped, she said.

“One person from the crowd was wrestling with the driver when the driver pulled out a gun and fired at least one round, striking the protester in the shoulder,” she said.

Video shows the protester drop to the ground as the driver got out and waved the gun at the crowd. He was arrested soon after that near where hundreds of demonstrators have gathered for days near a police precinct station.

Hours later, the crowd became unruly and started throwing objects, police said. Police ordered people to disperse and said in a Tweet that “CS gas has been authorized," referring to tear gas.

The authorization to use it came after Mayor Jenny Durkan and Police Chief Carmen Best on Friday announced a 30-day on tear gas and a review of use of force after complaints from protesters and local elected officials. Police have said they must deal with a small criminal element within protests, but City...