APD: Cops infiltrated Occupy Austin

AUSTIN (KXAN) - Undercover police officers infiltrated the five-month protest by Occupy Austin at City Hall that began late last years, a top police official told reporters on Friday.

"I can confirm Austin Police Department had plain-clothed police officers as well as uniformed officers assigned to work the Occupy A ustin events of last year and early this year," Assistant Police Chief Sean Mannix said at a news conference.

The acknowledgement came in response to testimony that emerged in a criminal trial in Harris County involving the Occupy movement at the Port of Houston. Through that testimony, a transcript of which is published on Occupy Austin's Facebook page, it was learned that Austin officers were part of that event.

Mannix said the decision to place undercover officers within the Occupy movement came from concern aired by some of the protesters that criminal activity was taking place in the area around City Hall.

"It was determined plain clothes officers blending with the surroundings was necessary for the safety of the participants and the community as a whole," Mannix said. "The primary mission of these officers was to protect the free-speech activities of those engaged in lawful protest, as well as initiating police response and action with regards to criminal activity."

Mannix said he could not comment about the specifics of the operation.