New video has surfaced which suggests an officer may have started the violent outbreak during a protest outside Bank of America in downtown Dallas last Saturday.

It shows protester Stephen Benavides is standing on a planter. Behind him there is an off-duty officer working security for the bank.

Benavides said he and the officer did exchange a few words. Then the video shows the officer reach up and push him off of the planter.

Benavides said that is what started the clash with police. One officer hit his head when he fell. Several other Occupy Dallas protesters were arrested, including the man who shot the newly released video.

“Once everybody saw me being pushed off the ledge you hear, ‘Shame, shame shame.’ At that point other officers started pepper spraying people, pulling people off the ground and dragging them away,” he said.

Benavides was charged with assault on a police officer and resisting arrest. He now wants those charges dropped. He wants the officer disciplined and he wants an apology.

Dallas police agreed that the video clearly shows the officer pushing the protester. They have agreed to review all arrests from that day.

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