-- BREAKING NEWS ... updated with more details to follow ---

Marcus Washington is an independent journalist in Knoxville, TN. He came up to St. Paul to cover the Republican National Convention. He has full press credentials and has worked across the south had previously worked for WTNZ in Knoxville.

Here's the situation ... the police are decked out in full riot gear as is customary at any large protest. Particularly when its a peace protest. And especially because its the Republican National Convention. At one point they ordered everyone to move back ten feet. Why did they do this? Because they are the police ... nuff said about that.

This was the point at which Marcus dropped his glasses. He bent over to pick them up and was immediately pepper-sprayed by the trigger-happy police. My inimitable colleague, Grace Kelly, provided first aid for Marcus as she was standing nearby.

I believe it is important to know the impact of Ramsey County Sherriff Bob "Gestapo Bob" Fletcher's over-aggressive tactics -- they hurt real people who are not doing anything wrong. Here's a little biographical information I found about Marcus. Before moving to Knoxville, he worked for a TV station in Tulsa, Oklahoma:

Update: I hope to speak to Marcus soon

I found another journalist with the same name. I mistakenly linked to the other's MW's bio at Fox23 News in Oklahoma. Hopefully, I'll get a chance to talk to Marcus soon.

Apparently, Grace Kelly has pix of the whole proceedings.