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41 °F Forecast | Road Cams Thursday, December 16, 2004 Today's News | Classifieds | Autos | Homes | Jobs | Tempo | Health | Community | Home Delivery SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics Tempo AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map SPECIAL SECTIONS Since We Asked Outdoor Journal Menu Guide How To Guide Wellness Connection Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Wedding Guide Passport to the Rogue Valley EXTRA Newspaper in Education Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People MARKETPLACE Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Classifieds Place an ad eSouthernOregon Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar CUSTOMER SERVICE Frequent Questions Advertising Information Home Delivery Employment Contact Us Media Kit Network Affiliate Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend October 21, 2004 Late change set Bush protest clash in motion By SANNE SPECHT Mail Tribune JACKSONVILLE — It was President Bush’s last-minute decision to change dinner plans that caused the chaos between crowds and police last Thursday night, officials said this week. Local law enforcement officers were told that Bush would eat dinner at the Jacksonville Inn restaurant — rather than in his cottage as planned — when the president’s motorcade was on its way back to town after a rally at the Jackson County Expo. "It’s difficult for a president to be impetuous," said City Administrator Paul Wyntergreen. "Making sudden decisions has a lot of ramifications for a lot of people." Secret Service wanted a one-block perimeter cleared between Bush’s dinner spot and the vocal crowd of approximately 300 people — fast, said Jackson County Sheriff Mike Winters. "It was the Secret Service that made that request," said Winters. "And the time frame was three to five minutes." Advertisement Jacksonville Police Chief David Towe was in charge of perimeters during Bush’s visit. Upon receiving the new perimeter demand, Towe ordered tactical teams of sheriff’s deputies and Oregon State Police officers to begin moving everyone off the sidewalks on both sides of California Street east of Third Street, Wyntergreen said. "It was a sudden change of plans and we had to change gears suddenly," said Wyntergreen. Both Bush supporters and protesters — which had filled the town’s narrow sidewalks for several hours prior — appeared confused as officers in riot gear emerged from side streets and began their advance. As teams of officers attempted to push the crowds east toward Fourth Street, one officer used a loud speaker to try to communicate. Wyntergreen, who was standing west of Third Street, said the crowd control "was not a movement to limit free speech." Wyntergreen described crowd behavior prior to the sidewalk sweep as a loud but orderly demonstration. "We had a mix of opinions on both sides of California Street," said Wyntergreen. "People were basically chanting what their opinions were." However, he said, things changed quickly as police pressed the crowds to retreat. "When the movement started and there was a noticeable outcry, (the Secret Service) revised their order and continued moving (the crowd) back to Fifth Street," said Wyntergreen. Some people fell while scrambling over benches, trash cans, stairs and each other. "They were physically pushing us shouting, ‘Move! Move!’ But it was like herding cattle through a tiny chute," said Lisa Glass, 33, of Talent on Friday. Several shots rang out at one point. Jacksonville resident and anti-Bush demonstrator Michael Moss was hit seven times in the back with pepper balls while helping a fallen member of the crowd. Two protesters were arrested. Both OSP and sheriff’s teams have "pepper ball guns," Winters said. He described the weapon as a non-lethal air-rifle that shoots plastic-coated "paint balls" filled with capsaicin. He said only one officer fired shots but he did not know the officer’s identity. Winters arrived on scene from the Expo shortly after the crowds were pushed back to Fifth Street, he said. Wyntergreen said his town had six days to get ready for the presidential visit. He said he put out an urgent request for extra officers to help his small four-officer department during Bush’s visit. Wyntergreen said he had help from as far afield as Weed and Yreka, Calif. Winters said law enforcement is reviewing the events in Jacksonville. "We have a video one of our officers took," said Winters. Reach reporter Sanne Specht at 776-4497 or e-mail [email protected] . Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2004 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. 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