A federal judge has ordered federal agencies to sharply limit their use of tear gas and other riot control tactics against protesters in Illinois, marking a major restriction on law enforcement as unrest continues across the state.
Judge Sara Ellis, an Obama appointee to the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, issued a temporary restraining order prohibiting agents from dispersing crowds in public areas unless there are “exigent circumstances,” The Washington Times reported.
The order forbids the use of crowd control munitions — including tear gas, flash-bang grenades, and less-lethal shotguns — unless officers determine there is an immediate threat to someone’s physical safety. Ellis also ordered officers to issue at least two verbal warnings before deploying such tactics and to give protesters enough time to comply.
The judge went further, forbidding officers from shoving or tackling demonstrators to the ground unless they pose an immediate threat of physical harm or officers are making a lawful arrest.
The case was filed by journalists who said they were manhandled by federal officers during protests against U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations in the Chicago area.
