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Police seek to find RNC protest victims, release photos and video

St. Paul Police Chief John Harrington and Ramsey County Sheriff Bob Fletcher announced today a joint effort to identify victims of assaults, criminal damage to property and other crimes during the Republican National Convention.

The victims are people who didn't make reports to police, but whose images of the assaults or damage were captured on camera, said Peter Panos, St. Paul police spokesman.

Officials released information about two cases today, and said they expect more will be forthcoming.

One case is a man assaulted Sept. 1, the first day of the RNC, outside 220 E. Seventh St. in St. Paul at about 1:30 p.m., Fletcher said. Police don't know his name and haven't been able to identify him. They hope the man or someone who knows him will come forward.

20081106__RNC_photo.jpg
Photograph is a man who St. Paul police say was assaulted on Sept. 1, 2008, the first day of the RNC. Police are trying to identify him because they don't have a report from him. They say it happened in front of 220 E. Seventh St., about 1:30 p.m. (Courtesy St. Paul Police)**


The photo of the man, who Harrington said was "attacked by anarchists," was found by law enforcement on the Internet, in the public domain.

The other case involves cars surrounded by protesters on Shepard Road, near the Robert Street Bridge, later on Sept. 1. Police are looking for the owners of the cars, specifically a silver car shown on a police surveillance video with a protester causing damage on the hood.



Anyone with information about either case is asked to the call the new RNC investigative unit at 651-266-5471.

The unit is culling through about 6,000 hours of police video, Harrington said. Investigators are finding more instances of violence and vandalism, and will be trying to identify other victims and suspects, he said.

There were 818 people arrested in connection with the RNC, which ran from Sept. 1-4.

While thousands of people protested and marched peacefully, Harrington told the St. Paul City Council in October that the department was forced to change its tactics and ramp up its use of force as "anarchists and rioters" sought to disrupt the convention and damage property.

The tab for property damage, including broken windows downtown and a vandalized police car, stood at $69,000 and could rise by another $10,000, Harrington said to the city council on Oct. 22.

Police used tear gas, pepper spray and other force, which some have criticized.

An independent review of law enforcement planning and tactics during the RNC is underway.

** The correct source and caption for this photo is: ST. PAUL, MN - SEPTEMBER 1: Protestors and a counter-protestor struggle in the streets outside the Republican National Convention (RNC) at the Xcel Energy Center September 1, 2008 in St. Paul, Minnesota. The RNC began today and runs through September 4. (Photo by Max Whittaker/Getty Images)

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