AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Austin police have used undercover police officers to infiltrate the local Occupy group to gather strategies and monitor protests.
The Austin American-Statesman reports (http://bit.ly/ObSA5A) that at least three undercover officers marched with Occupy Austin, camped with participants and attended strategy meetings. Court documents obtained by the Statesman show top police officials up to Chief Art Acevedo, approved their work.
Police officials confirmed the use of the officers but would not comment on whether undercover officers helped build "lockbox" devices intended to make it harder for police to break up human chains.
Court records and interviews with protesters suggest one of the suspected undercover officers helped buy materials for lockboxes.
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Information from: Austin American-Statesman, http://www.statesman.com
