DETROIT (WXYZ) — In an interview on Fox News Monday morning, Detroit Police Chief James Craig said protesters are "masterful at changing the narrative" after a judge ruled DPD can't use batons, gas or rubber bullets on protesters.
U.S. District Court Judge Laurie Michelson issued a ruling Friday night partially granting a temporary restraining order in the lawsuit filed by activist group Detroit Will Breathe against the City of Detroit and Detroit Police Department.
In the order, Michelson ruled that the city cannot use "striking weapons, chemical agents, or rubber bullets" against the protesters who do not pose a physical threat to the safety of the public or the police. Officers also cannot use chokeholds against the protesters.
Chief Craig said officers have only used force when protesters weren't peaceful, citing six instances over 100 days of protests.
"Protesters who are masterful at changing the narrative have always claimed they were peaceful and we used force," the chief said.
He said the judge's ruling "changes nothing."
"Someone has to step up and simply say this must stop," he said. "Doesn't matter if you're left, right, what your issues are."
Craig said DPD will continue to move forward.
"It's a situation that all of us as a country are dealing with."
