DENVER – The cause of the clash differs between police and Occupy Denver protesters, but in the end thirty people were arrested Saturday in downtown Denver.

A police spokesman says the confrontation began when some Occupy Denver protesters tried to illegally “occupy” the state capitol. Protesters say things got out of hand when they began setting up tents and other temporary shelters in Civic Center Park.
Witnesses say the day began peacefully when the group ended a march at the north steps of the state capitol, at which point the state police would not let the protesters loiter. With the help of Denver police, the protesters were “pushed back” from the capitol steps.

Unidentified protesters tell FOX31 Denver that police showed up in riot gear when some of the protesters began stringing tarps between trees, adding that police began moving through the park taking down anything that could be used for shelter.

“I saw the police become brutal for no reason,” said a woman who was at the protest. “I saw them choke a guy; I saw people get tear gassed who weren’t violent.”
Witnesses say some in the crowd were throwing objects at police, and that a police officer patrolling the protest on a motorcycle was pushed off his bike.
“We did have an officer who was pushed off his motorcycle and we had officers who were kicked,” said Denver Police Lieutenant Matt Murray. “When it escalated to that point we made an all-citywide call for every available officer.”

According to sources at the scene, some protesters were seen urinating in bottles and throwing them at police officers. Others were allegedly putting trip wires on the ground in an effort to trip officers.
No serious injuries have been reported.
Police confirm that a few officers have resorted to pepper spray and other non-lethal devices such as rubber bullets in an effort to control the crowd.  By 6 p.m. garbage and dump trucks began collecting anything unclaimed by the protesters and police cleared the scene two hours later.  One protester was taken to the hospital for minor injuries.  (read more)