From the Associated Press.
The Iraq War veteran injured during a clash between police and anti-Wall Street protesters is unable to speak, but can otherwise communicate and is expected to make a full recovery.
Alameda County Medical Center Chief Surgeon Dr. Alden Harken said Scott Olsen had improved dramatically since he was hospitalized unconscious Tuesday night with a fractured skull and bruised brain.
By Thursday afternoon, Harken says, the 24-year-old Olsen was interacting with his parents, doing math equations and otherwise showing signs of "high-level cognitive functioning." The doctor says he may require surgery, but that's unlikely.
Hospital spokesman Vintage Foster says Olsen smiled when Mayor Jean Quan stopped by to visit and expressed surprise at all the attention his injury has generated.
Here's Scott Olsen shortly after the incident:
Here's video of the incident itself:
You can see in the slow motion near 40 seconds that after Olsen was hit in the head by a police projectile, a group of people attempted to help him. The police responded to the medical emergency by throwing a stun grenade at the group.
Though we can clearly see a stun grenade exploding, the Oakland PD still denies that they were used. They say that they, the Oakland PD, didn't use them, but wont tell us if other police departments on scene did. Other police departments are refusing to answer any questions, and directing those questions to the Oakland PD.
We also know that rubber bullets were used, but there were similar denials. For the full story, see our previous entry here:
http://www.dailykos.com/...
This incident is being investigated by local authorities. I hope the ACLU and NLG act, as well.
We Are the Other 99 has been bringing you unfiltered, primary source information from Zuccotti Park. We have been on site since day one and are 100% funded by small donors. We will continue to keep you updated with the latest news and developments from the front lines. Please consider a donation of $9.17 [Sept. 17] to our Media Fund.
3:36 PM PT: Great quote from Reuters:
Olsen "responded with a very large smile" to a visit from his parents, Highland General Hospital spokesman Warren Lyons said at a late-afternoon press conference on Thursday.
"He's able to understand what's going on. He's able to write and hear, but has a little difficulty with his speech," Lyons said.
Here are two images of Olsen that have been bouncing around.