Complete coverage of the Chicago NATO Summit
Gas Masks Were Miscommunication: McCarthy
Top cop says he never gave an order to use gas on protesters
Monday, May 21, 2012 | Updated 1:57 PM CDT
Police Supt. Garry McCarthy becomes emotional when talking about how his officers dealt with a big clash with protesters near Michigan and Cermak earlier in the day.
Chicago Police Superintendent Garry McCarthy says it was a miscommunication when his officers put on gas masks during NATO summit protests.
McCarthy said Monday that radio traffic during Sunday's major NATO protest described one protester in the crowd wearing a gas mask.
McCarthy said the message got repeated and officers thought it was an order to prepare. But McCarthy, who was on the scene, said he was not considering using pepper spray and told officers to take them off.
McCarthy says he never gave an order to use gas and he gave everyone an all clear.
Chicago police and protesters scuffled after a planned march and rally near the site of the NATO summit on Sunday.
