Occupy Burlington scored a minor but unexpected victory Thursday when Mayor Bob Kiss personally authorized the release of one demonstrator.
Burlington Free Press filmed police just as they were taking 23-year-old Hayley Mason of Burlington, Vermont into custody.
"I didn't cross the [police] line!" she shouted.
"Let her go! Let her go!" the crowd chanted.
An officer could be seen loading tear gas rounds as Mayor Kiss tried to calm the crowd.
"Give us Hayley! Give us Hayley!" the crowd continued.
Kiss whispered something in one officer's ear before he stepped forward to make a statement.
"Under my responsibility, I'm going to ask the police to release Hayley," he explained.
"What do you do when you're under attack?" the crowd asked. "Stand up, fight back!"
Earlier in the day at City Hall Park, a 35-year-old man was fatally wounded. Police believe the shooting may have been self inflicted.
