Some cops don't get out from behind their desks much, so when the NYPD's Assistant Chief went out to face protesters (and camera crews) on the Manhattan Bridge he did so with the express purpose of getting on the local news. Unfortunately for him, all James McCarthy ended up doing was blasting himself in the face with pepper spray, as well as other police officers. And then of course the police department lied about it, trying to save themselves embarrassment. That didn't work out so well either.

Source: New York Post

A top NYPD officer was seemingly caught on camera accidentally pepper-spraying himself while trying to break up an anti-Israel demonstration on the Manhattan Bridge Saturday.

Video shared on social media shows NYPD Assistant Chief James McCarthy getting a faceful of the chemical irritant as he tried to deploy it on protesters who brought traffic to a standstill as they marched across the bridge Saturday evening.

Cops in riot gear can be seen in the chaotic footage trying to wrangle protesters who are falling over each other as they back away chanting, “Rafah!”

The group of protesters, some carrying signs reading “Palestine will be free,” appear to have their arms linked together while backing away from police.

Toward the end of the clip, which had been viewed over 230,000 times Sunday morning, McCarthy can be seen alongside three protesters pulling pepper spray out of his pocket and accidentally spraying himself.

Photographs show McCarthy wearing a white uniform while other officers dump a bottle of water over his shocked face.