COMMENTARY

Peter Burgess

Report: Undercover cops infiltrated Occupy LA

LOS ANGELES (AP) – Media reports say Los Angeles police used nearly a dozen undercover detectives to infiltrate the Occupy LA encampment in the weeks before Wednesday's raid to gather information on protesters' intentions.

A police source who spoke on the condition of anonymity because the case is ongoing tells the Los Angeles Times that none of the officers slept at the camp, but tried to blend in to learn about plans to resist or use weapons against police.

Nearly 300 people were arrested during the pre-dawn raid at City Hall Park.

Police are downplaying the significance of the undercover work since Occupy meetings were public and easily tracked.

LAPD Officer Cleon Joseph declined an Associated Press request for comment on the reports.

The story was first reported by City News Service.