Cop behind UC Davis pepper spraying off the force

Updated at 1:20 p.m. ET

(CBS/AP) SACRAMENTO, Calif. - A University of California, Davis, police officer who sprayed demonstrators with pepper spray during a campus protest last fall no longer works for the university, CBS Sacramento station KOVR-TV reports.

A UC Davis official confirmed Tuesday night to KOVR-TV that Lt. John Pike separated from the university's police force Tuesday. The university declined to comment further, citing privacy concerns.

When reached by The Sacramento Bee, Pike declined to comment.

The 39-year-old Pike had been on paid leave since the incident last November when video images showed him and another officer spraying demonstrators who were seated on a sidewalk and refused police orders to disperse during an Occupy protest.

The images were watched online and on broadcast stations around the world.

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In New York, three people who claimed they were pepper sprayed by police officers at an Occupy Wall Street protest in Manhattan have filed lawsuits against the city, its police department and several police officers.

Plaintiffs Kelly Hanlin, Damien Crisp and Julie Lawler say they were injured and their constitutional rights were violated when they were sprayed by a chemical during a march from Zuccotti Park to Union Square on Sept. 24. The filings in federal court seek unspecified damages.

A video of the protest shows Deputy Inspector Anthony Bologna blasting a cluster of people with pepper spray. Bologna was later docked 10 vacation days in a disciplinary action.

A spokesman for the city's Law Department told The New York Times they hadn't viewed the lawsuits, which were filed on Tuesday.

[gpx21dlr]

He will not have any problem finding employment in another jurisdiction "serving and protecting" us.

[UForgotPoland]

Freedom of speech only goes when Republicans say it goes. The Chicken-Fill-A owner is allowed to bash gays but students cannot voice they opinion without some con pepper spraying them.

[DenverBroncofan]

waste of pepper spray...they should have just shot em

[marzxyz]

Get to work on that resume, sucker.

[ReckonedTruth]

..this was a peaceful protest.. in which these STUDENTS had a RIGHT to peacefully protest.

..and furthermore..the president of UDC said.. the ACT was extreme and he was appalled of the images withc came forth..

..and yet again a facist fearmonger PD reacts beyond their employment scope to the extremes..

..this senseless act will cost the UDC, the city of Davis,Ca.,..and the PD involved in this horrendus display of inept circus narcisissism.. who was saying..hey I'm in charge--look at me saids the facist cop..I have pepper spray chemical.. of which I'm about to inflicted everlasting physical damage onto peaceful protesters..

Look, if you want to prove these peaceful protestors were breaking the law... you handcuff the peaceful protestor and you take them off to jail..and let the courts work it out.. you don't spray them with chemical as your ONLY resource.. pepper spray is used for the combative protestors....ciminals..etc.,

[PSnoBS]

Yes, kkltr76, sitting on a sidewalk in protest is CRIMINAL. Round them up and toss them in prison. Murderers, rapists, thieves, peaceful protesters, they're all the same!

[mediaplankton]

And here I was thinking that these losers who have time to "occupy" but not to work--might even riot! But US cities, towns and homes do not need to be protected by police from riots, evidently. Police --who may use force to disperse non-obeying, angry protesters who have nothing to lose may riot--Right, Los Angeles?
Many of the "Occupiers" are too good to work and US life owes them something.............

[credibility2]

These protestors didn't have a permit, were blocking the right of way and were repeatedly asked and then ordered to get up and leave. They disobeyed and refused and got what they deserved. This cop was just doing his job. Too bad he lost his job, but he did the right thing. We've become nation of law breakers and wusses and more concerned about being PC and not offending anyone.

[Verascity]

Finally.