Critically injured Denver cop hit by car at Ferguson protest out of surgery

Earlier today, a quartet of Denver police officers on bike patrol helped escort high school students who had marched to the Capitol to protest the Ferguson grand jury decision. An out-of-control car struck the cops, injuring the four. Three were released from the hospital tonight. But nine-year DPD veteran John Adsit remains in critical condition. He is out of surgery and stable.

NEW: DPD Officer John Adsit is out of surgery. Still critical but now stable, per @DenverPolice. pic.twitter.com/iCYcqDqvzs

— Kyle Clark (@KyleClark) December 4, 2014

Sources tell @DenverChannel Officer John Adsit is the DPD officer in critical condition. Latest on @DenverChannel 5pm pic.twitter.com/B4agCS01Zv

— Eric Kahnert (@EricNews8) December 3, 2014

The Denver police department provided Twitter updates. The driver of the errant car apparently suffered a medical emergency.

#BREAKING UPDATE: Around 12PM, while assisting w/a march, 4 officers were struck by vehicle. Driver experienced medical emergency. #Denver

— Denver Police Dept. (@DenverPolice) December 3, 2014

UPDATE/FAMILY STATEMENT: The family of Ofc John Adsit would like to thank you for your thoughts and prayers on behalf of Officer Adsit. 1/2

— Denver Police Dept. (@DenverPolice) December 4, 2014

UPDATE 2/2: Pls continue to pray as we trust the Lord for a complete recovery.We ask for your respect for our privacy as we gather for John.

— Denver Police Dept. (@DenverPolice) December 4, 2014

UPDATE: our injured officer is coming out of surgery, he remains critical – but now stable! Thanks for all the positive thoughts!

— Denver Police Dept. (@DenverPolice) December 4, 2014

Students had been planning to rally for some time but spontaneously decided to head to the Capitol to raise awareness about police abuse, Amarae Moland, a sophomore who helped organize the protest, told The Associated Press.

She was grateful officers escorted them.

“A lot of the students felt bad,” Moland said. “We were running through the streets, and the cops were just there to help and ended up getting hurt.”

The officers were struck as the protest wound down and students returned to the school.

“I saw one of them, they were trying to get him up and he couldn’t really get up,” Moland said.

The injured bicycle officers are all veterans of the department and assigned to patrol the downtown pedestrian mall.

Councilman Brooks, whose district includes the mall, said he visited the family of Adsit, who has been on the force for nine years.

The officers “basically allowed these students to enjoy their First Amendment rights,” Brooks said.

Citizens are showing appreciation for the good guys.

Just left the hospital of the @DenverPolice officer who was injured. Doctors are optimistic. #Denver #denvereast please pray.

— Albus Brooks (@AlbusBrooks) December 3, 2014

@DenverPolice @DenverHealthMed Thanks to you, DPD, for risking your lives so that we may know safety.

— marsha berger (@berger_marsha) December 4, 2014