ACLU sues over police actions during St. Louis protests

ST. LOUIS �� The American Civil Liberties Union has sued the City of St. Louis for "unlawful and unconstitutional" actions during protests of the acquittal of Jason Stockley, a police officer who shot a black man to death.

The lawsuit, announced in a news release, centers on the use of chemical weapons, interference with people recording police activity and violation of due process during the "kettling" incident downtown Sunday.

Kettling is a technique police used to box in and arrest protesters who did not follow orders to disperse.

More than 100 people were arrested Sunday night. Most of those charged were accused of failure to disperse.

The lawsuit alleges that protesters had been ordered to disperse 45 minutes earlier and away from the location of the kettling. Then police allowed protesters and others into the area.

"Without further instruction or warning, or any instruction or warning at all at the intersection, police officers surrounded protesters, observers, and members of the press, cutting off all routes of egress _ including via any sidewalk_and prohibiting the people trapped inside from leaving," the lawsuit says.

Police officers then used chemical agents on those caught in the area without warning.

Police also removed the goggles that some people were wearing in anticipation that chemical agents might be used "and then sprayed those individuals directly in the face," the suit says.

The lawsuit also says police ordered people to delete photos and videos from their phones and cameras.

The plaintiffs want a court order requiring that the city order protesters to disperse "in a constitutional manner" and follow the Constitution when police act at protests.

Named plaintiffs are Maleeha Ahmad and Alison Dreith, both residents of St. Louis.

"We look forward to appearing in court with the plaintiffs and thrashing out the issues presented," St. Louis City Counselor Julian Bush said in a statement. "We are confident that proceedings will result in a just disposition that will protect the safety, persons and property of all."