COLORADO SPRINGS — Colorado Springs police released their first public statement on Facebook Tuesday about a demonstration that caused police to activate the CSPD Riot Control Team Monday afternoon.
Police said they intended to give demonstrators a "safe place for protesters to exercise their first amendment rights" following a fatal officer-involved shooting involving CSPD officers last weekend.
Officers said two men showed up to the protest on motorcycles wearing bulletproof vests, handcuffs and were armed with handguns. Police said they also had badges that identified them as bail bondsmen. In our interview with the two men, they identified themselves as Justin and Dustin Brooks, 33-year-old twin brothers who are bounty hunters.
Police said an argument started when the brothers approached the crowd and one of the protesters hit one of them. According to police, that's when they drew their handguns, resulting in their arrest for disorderly conduct.
None of the protesters were arrested. Police did not say if anyone was under investigation for tipping over the the Brooks' motorcycles, which was caught on video. The brothers told News5 they were damaged during the scuffle.
Police said they had officers in riot gear tell protesters to disperse after they blocked the street in front of the operations center.
