December 23, 2011 03:07 AM UTC

Occupy Denver Arsonist Charged

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• by: Colorado Pols

Denver Police Chief Robert White has to be particularly careful in dealing with the Occupy Denver movement for fear that any misstep may raise cries of police brutality.

Still, when people are starting fires in the middle of a public park, White’s certainly obligated to arrest them for, say, arson.

And that’s exactly what’s happened. From 7News’ Wayne Harrison:

A man accused of setting fires at an Occupy Denver protest has been charged with arson.

Denver District Attorney Mitch Morrissey said that 22-two-year-old Michael Clapper was charged with four counts of fourth-degree arson on Thursday.

Clapper, of Westminster, allegedly set fire to a structure and other debris in Civic Center Park on Monday. That’s when police moved in to clear out the nearby sidewalk that had served as the hub for the Occupy movement. Some makeshift structures had been erected there and some went up in flames as police closed in.

Bottom line, White’s playing his cards exactly as he should. He’s being forceful when the Occupiers are endangering public safety, but he’s still responsive to their needs. The fact that Occupy Denver is permitted to protest even after arson charges is testament to the fact that White seems to know what he’s doing with the civil unrest in Civic Center Park. Not bad for the first couple of weeks on the job.