http://www.azstarnet.com/metro/128985

Protester sought in kicking
By Alexis Huicochea
arizona daily star
Tucson, Arizona | Published: 05.13.2006
The Tucson Police Department is asking for the public's help in identifying a female protester who kicked an officer in the face during the April 10 pro-immigration rally.

After closely reviewing video footage from the rally, police have been able to single out the female who they say intentionally kicked Officer Nathan A. Tullgren, 26, as he was on the ground making an arrest, said

Tucson police Chief of Staff Capt. Brett Klein on Friday.

Police say she could face a charge of aggravated assault on a peace officer.

According to Klein, Tullgren had just pulled a male off of another officer's back when he took the male down to the ground.

The woman, who is in her late teens to early 20s, then kicked Tullgren in the face, knocking off his hat.

After she kicked Tullgren, Officer Douglas C. Musick pushed the young woman away to prevent her from further injuring the officer and she fell over a bicycle, a police report stated.

She ran into the crowd before she could be arrested.

She was wearing a black or navy blue hooded sweatshirt, jeans, a black messenger bag and black-and-white Chuck Taylor Converse shoes.

At times, she had a red Che Guevara flag draped over her shoulders. She has black hair and a lip ring on her lower lip.

Meanwhile, the Tucson Police Officers Association said officers performed their jobs properly during the rally and a smaller counterprotest where a Mexican flag was burned.

Officers had to use pepper spray and arrested six people after protesters became angered by the burning of the flag. A man who is accused of burning the Mexican flag was arrested the following day.

Organizers of the pro-immigration rally and march have accused the officers of using excessive force and failing to perform their jobs. They have asked that an independent investigation be conducted into how police handled the rally and counterprotest.

Two reports this week by the Police Department said officers' actions, including several instances where force was used, were justifiable.