"Two studies conducted in the Netherlands showed that pepper spray was useful for subduing violent subjects, but actually caused non-violent situations to escalate into violence" ... "‘The use of spray may not necessarily be an alternative to force, but provides officers with options to use more force — perhaps unnecessarily. In other words, if it is there, they will use it.’"

Through the streets of Times Square What Cheer? Brigade runs in with the police and pulls some magic tricks..

The self-styled super hero ran in to break up a fight between a small group and a large group. He used pepper spray to fend off the fighters after he was attacked. He's been charged with four counts of assault.

Here's some choice quotes from the article:

Police spokesman Jamieson said Jones' actions were overkill. "If you see something that warrants calling 911, call 911. You don't need to dress up in a costume to do that."

...

A China-born U.S. citizen and award-winning inventor of emission control systems for autos, Hu has written to the police who investigated him for infringing commercial secrets and met with the prosecutors who dropped the charges for lack of evidence. Yet he has not been allowed to leave - nor told why.

-"Kelvin" in Colorado

Charges finally filed against two Fullerton, CA police officers who beat Kelly Thomas, a homeless man, to death in July.