Police Union Chief Blasts Protesters for ‘Baiting’ Officers

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — The head of St. Paul's police union says some demonstrators were "vile" during weeks of protests outside the governor's mansion.

Police cleared out protesters from St. Paul's Summit Avenue last week, making nearly 70 arrests. Protesters converged outside Gov. Mark Dayton's residence to call for justice in the death of Philando Castile. Castile, who was black, was shot and killed by a suburban police officer during a July 6 traffic stop.

St. Paul Police Federation President Dave Titus said Thursday that most of those protesters were peaceful. But he accused some of trying to bait officers into violence by using inappropriate language, spitting and even slapping officers.

Titus says the conduct of some agitators was "disgusting."

Leaders from Black Lives Matter have said they were peaceful and obeyed officers' commands.