Police Say Armed Man Threatened Park Volunteer and Used his Daughter as Human Shield

An actual 'human shield' incident.

Salem-News.com

(PORTLAND, Ore.) - Portland Police officers assigned to East Precinct responded to Mt Tabor Park on a threatening man armed with a gun threatening Tuesday, at about 5:06 p.m.

Officers say the suspect, 32-year old Hugh Brandon Neustel, spit on a park volunteer, then got a gun out of his car and threatened the volunteer.

People at the park pointed Neustel out to the arriving officers, who approached Neustel but he walked away from them ignoring them.

It appeared that Neustel had something in his hand. Neustel walked toward the playground and grabbed a 6-year old girl off the equipment and held her across his body as a human shield.

Officers say they repeatedly asked him to put the girl down. At some point Neustel indicated the girl was his daughter. Officers requested additional cover units respond to the scene. It was only after several additional officers arrived that Neustel complied, he put the girl down and was arrested. Officers located a weapon.

Neustel was transported to the Multnomah County Detention Center and was charged with Attempted Coercion, two counts of Disorderly Conduct, Harassment, Interfering with a Police Officer, Possessing a Weapon in Park, and two counts of Reckless Endangering.

'Human shield' is an interesting term for a very rare occurrence exactly like the one reported above. Sadly, it has become standard jargon for governments that use military tactics against civilians, sometimes in Genocidal proportions, such as in Israel and Sri Lanka.