Occupy Austin Uncovers APD Undercover

“Soon after Occupy Austin protesters began their months-long demonstration at City Hall last fall, Austin police officials assigned at least three undercover officers to infiltrate the group to gather intelligence on any plans that might break the law.

The officers camped with other participants in the movement, marched in rallies and attended strategy meetings with Occupy Austin members.”

-Austin Statesman

Dowell, pictured here marching in a protest against Chase Bank. (photo: John Jack Anderson)

“Sabat and Cortez note that the lockboxes weren’t necessary to carry out the protest; the other seven members who blocked one of the roads leading to the port did so simply with their bodies. And without the influence of the APD officers, Gladden says, the seven now facing felony prosecution, including his client Garza, would have done the same. In short, he says, Dowell’s actions entrapped his client and the others, inducing them to take an illegal action they otherwise would not have undertaken. “The police knew the kids could be charged with the felony” for using the lockboxes, Gladden says, “but the kids didn’t know [that].”‘

-Austin Chronicle

Dowell, seen here masked at another Occupy Austin Gathering (photo: John Jack Anderson)

“Friday afternoon APD. Assistant Chief Sean Mannix confirmed that the department had several officers working undercover in the Occupy Austin movement attending meetings, marches and protests.
 
“The primary mission for these officers was to protect the free speech activities of those engaged in lawful protests as well as initiating police response and action with regards to criminal activity,” said Mannix on Friday.”

-KVUE Austin

Copy of Court Transcript from Aug. 27th Pretrial Hearing

“I spoke with Gregg Gladden, the NLG attorney representing Garza, and he said the case had all the hallmarks of a provocateur from the beginning. This kind of behavior has a long history of being used to break up activist movements and the tips and subsequent investigations proved his suspicions correct. He told me that Judge Campbell seemed upset by the behavior of the police and their refusal to comply with her requests for evidence. Gladden said:

“The behavior of Austin Police Department is shocking to my conscience. I believe it is shocking to the conscience of the court. and it is one of the worst ways I can think of for the government to be spending its money, our money. The case needs to be dismissed and the Austin Police Department needs to rethink its role in society.”

With discovery to resume next week this is very much an ongoing story, and what’s been learned so far just leads to more questions. Who, if anyone, ordered Dowell to assist in constructing lockboxes? What was Austin Police Department hoping to accomplish and just how involved were Dowell’s supervisors  or Chief Acevedo in these decisions?”

-Firedoglake

Background on the Detective Shannon G. Dowell and the Gulf Port 7:

Download the full Pretrial Court Transcript here:
http://occupyaustin.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/Ronnie-Garza-PTH.pdf

#D12 Gulf Port 7: Undercover Austin Narcotics Detective Enabled Houston Felonies
http://my.firedoglake.com/kitoconnell/2012/08/29/d12-gulf-port-7-undercover-austin-narcotics-detective-enabled-houston-felonies/

#D12 Gulf Port 7: Judge Joan Campbell Is Not Amused With Detective Shannon Dowell
http://my.firedoglake.com/kitoconnell/2012/08/30/campbell-not-amused/

Austin police infiltrated Occupy Austin
http://www.statesman.com/news/local/austin-police-infiltrated-occupy-austin-2447850.html

APD Infiltrates Occupy
http://www.austinchronicle.com/blogs/news/2012-08-30/apd-infiltrates-occupy/

APD efforts in Occupy Austin questioned
http://www.kvue.com/news/APD-efforts-in-Occupy-Austin-questioned-168210006.html

Police Accused of instigating, not just infiltrating Occupy Austin

http://austin.ynn.com/content/top_stories/287948/police-accused-of-instigating–not-just-infiltrating-occupy-austin

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