Eugene residents split on controversial arrest

EUGENE, Ore. (AP) — Eugene residents are showering police with both protest and praise after a controversial drug arrest.

The Register-Guard reports (http://bit.ly/2f4Y6yX ) that officers on Friday arrested a 29-year-old man while a crowd surrounded them, screaming obscenities as they struggled to take Walton into custody.

Lt. Doug Mozan reviewed video footage and police reports of the incident. He told the Register-Guard that Walton was clinging to the bumper of the police car, requiring officers to gradually escalate their use of force. Two videos show officers pinning Walton to the ground while using pepper spray, punching and tasing him.

Some residents attending a two-hour forum held by the City Council Monday said officers used excessive force and didn’t try to de-escalate the situation. Others defended police and called their actions courageous.

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Information from: The Register-Guard, http://www.registerguard.com